Ecuador Independence Day
August 10 · Level 10 · #223 of 2238
Ecuador marks the uprising against Spanish rule that began in Quito in 1809. Remembered as the First Cry of Independence, it became a defining moment in the country's long struggle for freedom.
How it is celebrated: official ceremonies, wreath-laying and military parades honour the independence movement. Quito hosts cultural events, with national flags displayed around public buildings and squares.
The holiday commemorates a beginning rather than a final victory. Quito was liberated only in 1822, following the Battle of Pichincha.