Guaguas de Pan

In Ecuador, the Day of the Dead, or Día de los Difuntos, features the tradition of baking guaguas de pan, or “bread babies.” These sweet breads, shaped like swaddled infants and decorated with icing, are sometimes filled with guava jam or dulce de leche. The word “guagua” is Quechua for “baby,” highlighting the custom's indigenous roots. Dating back to pre-Columbian times, this practice involved honoring the dead with food offerings and has since blended with Catholic influences, resulting in the colorful breads enjoyed today.

On November 2nd, families in Ecuador remember loved ones by sharing guaguas de pan and colada morada, a spiced purple drink made from fruits, herbs, and purple corn flour. In rural areas, these foods are often brought to cemeteries, fostering communal remembrance and celebration. Baking and exchanging guaguas de pan, especially between godparents and godchildren, strengthens social bonds and preserves ancestral customs. These bread babies symbolize memory, connection, and cultural continuity.