Its origin is lost in history, in a mixture of mestizo popular demonstrations: pagan and religious, Indigenous, African and Spanish; the same as its characters, rituals, costumes, music and dance bring life and endures over time such unique expression of the feelings of the people, retraced every year since the 17th century. In the 21st century it is a celebration in which homage to the Virgin of Mercy who granted according to tradition gratitude and recognition for protection in one of the eruptions of the world's highest active volcano, Cotopaxi.