Every year, as soon as it hits the last week of September, signs pop up in almost every panaderia and many tiendas: "Se vende guaguas de pan y colada morada." ("Guaguas of bread and purple colada for sale.")
Most people in Ecuador would say that these special foods are to mark El Día de los Disfuntos on November 2, which is a day to celebrate the deceased. However, if you ask someone from my city, Cuenca, they will say it is to celebrate the Independence Day of Cuenca, which happens to be November 3. Either way, these Guagas are a delicious (and super cute) treat. Guagua (pronounced "wah wah") is the Kichwa word for "baby." The Kichwa are an indigenous people in Ecuador, and many of their words, foods, and customs are highly integrated into the culture here. For example, you almost never hear someone say bebé, it's always guagua. So Guaguas de pan are exactly that: bread in the shape of a baby, with a yummy jelly (or sometimes chocolate) filling! Colada morada is a sweet fruit drink best served hot. It is very thick and filled with fruit chunks. The berries give it a bright purple, or morada color.
