Sneaking a peek into my childhood world, I see the vibrant celebrations of Día de los Muertos in Ecuador.

For my family, this day was about visiting the cemetery to clean up headstones, bringing flowers to honor loved ones AND enjoying the traditional Colada Morada, my favorite part!

Colada Morada is a hot, fruity drink made with an aromatic herbal tea base and served with guaguas de pan—little bread dolls decorated with colorful frosting.

Outside Ecuador, finding fresh ingredients can be tricky, so we’ve resorted to instant mixes. But nothing quite compares to the slow-simmering pot on the stove from my childhood. Thank goodness for people like Laylita who experiments and find new ways to recreate those flavors!

While my grandma and mom’s version was a more elaborate, day-long preparation, the smells and tastes of the new version still bring memories rushing back.  Last year, my sister and I decided to invite people over for Colada Morada. We started the process the night before, and I swear it tasted even more amazing because of all the laughter and love in the preparation. We made the herbal tea base, filling the kitchen with an incredible aroma, then added the fruit pulp and let it all cook together. The guaguas de pan recipe was a brioche-style bread, and it tasted wonderful (mostly because I didn’t have to make it).

Reflecting on this experience got me thinking about traditions and the gifts we pass down through generations. As an expat, I initially felt the need to adopt everything to fit into the new culture, often forgetting to leave room for my roots. But over time, I realized I could choose what to keep and what to let go of.

Who says we can’t start our own quirky traditions? In Ecuador, almost every holiday comes with its own traditional food, I very much like that, so I create my own blend, pulling from my culture and my life now.

My painting “Tradición”, captures this idea, with my grandma, my mom, and my niece in an embrace that symbolizes passing down, wisdom, caring for the next generation, and the freedom to decide what traditions to carry forward.

Traditions are powerful, and  as long as they serve us, they’re worth keeping. Sometimes, though, culture and expectations can lead us to continue rituals that feel heavy simply because they’re familiar. I believe the heart of tradition isn’t in the rituals themselves, but in the moments of connection and love they create.

In this video, I take you through my process behind selecting the background for my painting, Tradición,  as I worked on the background, I incorporated lettering of t-r-a-d-i-c-i-ó-n and t-r-a-d-i-t-i-o-n, using different styles to honor the blend of my Ecuadorian roots and new cultural experiences.

For an extra touch, I designed the grandmother’s sweater with a "crocheted" pattern featuring the fruits that make up Colada Morada. The yellow blouse highlights the herbs traditionally used in this recipe, turning these natural ingredients into a pattern full of personal meaning.

From color choices to intricate details, each element brings the essence of connection and tradition to life. I hope you find inspiration here, whether you’re an artist, a lover of culture, or someone exploring your own heritage.

And as you look at the traditions in your life, which ones truly connect you with the people and moments that matter to you?