Ecuador

By : Syed Mehran Asim BB073080

OUTLINE
 Introduction  Regionalism  Religion  Gift giving etiquette

INTRODUCTION
 Location: Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the
Equator, between Colombia and Peru

 Capital: Quito  Climate: Tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher
elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands

 Population: 13,927,650 (July 2008 est.)  Ethnic Make-up: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 65%,
Amerindian 25%, Spanish and others 7%, black 3%

REGIONALISM
 Ecuador has 4 diverse regions: the Amazon Rain forest, the Coast, the highland Andes, and the Galapagos Archipelago.

 The Sierra is the heartland of Ecuador's indigenous culture. The oldest cultures of America lived on the Ecuadorian coast.

RELIGION
 The Roman Catholic Church has a strong influence on personal and social behavior is part of national identity

 Most holidays and celebrations are based on Christian festivals.

 Indigenous Ecuadorians, while nominally Catholic, tend to blend Catholicism with their traditional beliefs.

GIFT GIVING ETIQUETTE

GIFT GIVING ETIQUETTE

 Ecuadorians give gifts for birthdays, Christmas or New Year, as well as religious events in a persons life.  A young girls 15th birthday is considered a special date and is much celebrated.  A bouquet of roses is always well received  Fine wines and liquors make good gifts

ETIQUETTE CONT
 If invited to an Ecuadorian home, bring flowers, good quality spirits, pastries, imported sweets for the hosts.  If you know the person well, perfume is an excellent gift.  Gifts are generally opened when received.  If you are given a gift, be very effusive in your thanks.

ETIQUETTE CONT
DO NOT!!
 Give lilies or marigolds as they are used at funerals.  Give scissors or knives as they indicate you want to sever the relationship.