📅 holiday

Ecuador Independence Day

Monday, August 10, 2026

— days to go

In 1532, Spanish. Conquest of Ecuador. The conquistador Francisco Pizarro invades the Inca Empire, which includes present-day Ecuador, initiating Spanish rule

History

Ecuador declared independence from Spain on August 10, 1809, though full independence was not achieved until 1822 following Simón Bolívar's campaigns. The territory was part of the Inca Empire before Francisco Pizarro's conquest in 1532. During colonial times, Ecuador was part of the Viceroyalty of Peru and later the Viceroyalty of Nueva Granada. The first attempt at independence on August 10, 1809, was suppressed by Spanish authorities, and Ecuador remained under royalist control. Alejandro Cordovez de Moconada led subsequent independence efforts. Simón Bolívar and Antonio José de Sucre liberated Ecuador at the Battle of Pichincha on May 24, 1822, and Ecuador joined Gran Colombia. When Gran Colombia dissolved in 1830, Ecuador became an independent republic. August 10 commemorates the first declaration of independence and Ecuador's emergence as a sovereign nation in the Andes.

How It's Celebrated

Celebrate by learning more about the occasion, sharing on social media with relevant hashtags, participating in community events, or taking small personal actions that align with the day's theme.

Countries

🇪🇨 EC

View all →

📅 holiday Feb 10

Feast of St Paul's Shipwreck

The Feast of Saint Paul’s Shipwreck is a holiday unique to Malta because it was on Malta that the Apostle Paul was shipwrecked around the year A.D. 60. In 2027, Feast of St Paul's Shipwreck falls on Wednesday 10 February. The holiday will be on Thursday 10 February in 2028. The feast is kept on February 10th each year, and as Paul is the patron saint of Malta, it is a much-anticipated event. Out of dozens of “saint days” on the church calendar in Malta, the Feast of Saint Paul is one of only a handful that have the status of a national holiday. The account of Paul’s shipwreck and three-month, wintertime stay on Malta is found in the Bible’s Acts 27:27 through 28:11. He was being taken to Rome as a prisoner to eventually stand trial before Caesar. God let him know in advance he would be shipwrecked but would spare the lives of all on board, which promise was later kept and in answer to Paul’s prayers for their lives. The Bible says the storm was in the Adriatic Sea, though Malta borders the Ionian Sea, because in ancient times, the Adriatic’s boundaries were considered to extend much farther south. The ship broke up on the rocks near the shores of Malta, and all swam ashore. The local population greeted them, but thought he might be a murderer whom the “goddess of justice” had finally caught up with after he was bitten by a poisonous snake. After he lived, however, they supposed him to be, perhaps, a god. Paul, however, soon showed them it was God’s power at work in a mere man by healing the governor of the island, Publius, and many others who were sick or disabled among the island’s population. No doubt, Paul preached the Gospel to them as well, and when he left Malta, the inhabitants gave him all necessary supplies out of gratitude. The Feast of Saint Paul’s Shipwreck is kept at the “Parish Church of Saint Paul Shipwrecked” in Malta’s capital city of Valletta. It is also a day of processions and family get-togethers. Three things to do should you visit Malta, though hopefully not be shipwrecked there, on February 10th are:

🎉 festival Feb 16

Ecuador Carnival

Ecuadorian Carnival is a vibrant celebration held in February, known for its unique blend of indigenous and Spanish traditions. The festival is famous for its playful water and foam fights, where participants joyfully drench each other with water, foam, flour, and colored paints. Each region of Ecuador has its own distinct Carnival traditions, with particularly elaborate celebrations in Ambato, Guaranda, and the Amazon region.

ECUS

📅 holiday Feb 23

Defender of the Fatherland Day

Defender of the Fatherland Day is a public holiday in RU.

📅 holiday Mar 19

St Joseph's Day

Every 19 March is celebrated as Saint Joseph’s Day in Roman Catholic cantons of the Swiss Confederation. In 2027, St Joseph's Day falls on Friday 19 March. The holiday will be on Sunday 19 March in 2028. However, in recent years, people have paid it less and less mind, and many local businesses in these regions don’t even close on Saint Joseph’s Day like they used to. Interestingly, there are two different religious feast days dedicated to Joseph in Roman Catholicism. Saint Joseph’s Day focuses on his role as the husband of Mary and “step father” of the child Jesus. But on 1 May, Saint Joseph the Worker day focuses on his role as the patron saint of all carpenters. There aren’t many events in areas of Switzerland celebrating Saint Joseph’s Day on 19 March. For those who have the day off, it is often spent relaxing, shopping or getting outdoors in the Spring weather.

CHESVA +1