Traveler Child Pass in Ecuador: Thousands take to the streets for the traditional procession

Thousands of faithful took to the streets of Cuenca, in the Ecuadorian province of Azuay, on December 24 to celebrate the traditional “Pase del Niño Viajero”, one of the most important religious celebrations in the country and which this year celebrates more than half a century. of history.

“This celebration reflects the soul of the Azuayo people: the endearing love for Jesus, for his childhood, and also for his mother, the Virgin Mary. Therefore, the joy of these days, and especially of Christmas, is manifested with song, dance, color; “Everything speaks of the coming of the Lord, of the presence of God among us, who comes to save us,” described Mons. Marcos Aurelio Pérez Caicedo, Archbishop of Cuenca, in statements sent to ACI Prensa.

This tradition, which combines faith with Andean elements, originated in an image of the Child Jesus sculpted in 1823. The image, which belonged to several generations of the same family, passed into the hands of the Vicar of the Archdiocese of Cuenca, Mons. Miguel Cordero Crespo, who in 1961 took her on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Upon his return, the image was baptized as the “Traveling Boy” and since then the procession has been celebrated every December 24.

Since dawn, the city was filled with color with floats and parades. At 10:00 am, the image of the Child Jesus, dressed in green, began its journey accompanied by a music band and the Tarqui grenadiers, which is a special cavalry unit of the Ecuadorian Army.

Passing along Bolívar Street, the balconies were filled with petals that fell on the crowd, while the faithful sang and prayed. The procession also included the participation of people dressed as biblical characters, farmers, dancers, indigenous people, etc.

During the journey, the Monasterio del Carmen de la Asunción offered more than 10,000 free lunches to the participants, thanks to donations of baked pigs.

The day before, the traditional change of godparents of the image took place. This year, the Salesian family, the merchants of the El Arenal Free Fair and the Army received the responsibility of guarding the Traveling Child until next year.

Cardinal Luis Gerardo Cabrera, Archbishop of Guayaquil, presided over the Holy Mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

In statements to the local pressthe cardinal recalled that the “Child Traveler Pass is an expression of a spirituality deeply rooted in our hearts, which is embodied in the culture, in the values ​​of Ecuador, and which is reflected through dance and music.”

“It is also a family gathering. I believe that we will meet again as brothers, as friends, to be able to give each other that deep, fraternal hug, as children, young people, adults, the elderly, men, women. “It really is a people’s festival,” he added.

Finally, he recalled that this year 2025 the life of the Church will be marked by the Jubilee of Hope: “The Pope proposes something to us: to be pilgrims of hope. Pilgrims of hope, because it says that hope does not disappoint, a hope deeply rooted in the word of the Lord.”

“How can we talk about hope in a world full of violence, insecurity, and injustice? It is not easy, but from faith, from the total trust we have in the Lord, it is possible. I believe that it is the message for everyone, to live this 2025 that is approaching with that hope placed in the Lord and in ourselves,” he concluded.