La Santísima Tragedia
(The Holy Tragedy)
La Santísima Tragedia is a celebration that features the Mama Negra and has its origins in indigenous, Spanish and African cultures. In a syncretism of cultures, you can find pre-Columbian era indigenous folklore characters, and post-Colonialism, which brought Spanish and African cultural influences to Latacunga in Ecuador. This celebration combines traditional ceremonies adjusted to incorporate aspects of Christian religious ceremonies introduced by the Spanish Colony.
This celebration is also known as The Mama Negra or Virgen de la Merced, this last is credited with having stopped the eruption of Cotopaxi volcano in 1742 and was proclaimed "Advocate and Patron of the Volcano" by the residents of Latacunga, who pledged to celebrate an annual fiesta in her honour.
Mama Negra is a character part of the body of work Fanesca, please read more about it here
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