Happy summer solstice! Here in Ecuador basically the entire month of June is the indigenous celebration called Inti Raymi. Although for non-indigenous mestizos it isn't such a big deal, for my family and other indigenous people in this area it is the biggest holiday of the year.
Two Sundays ago the entire community of Agualongo took the bus to Combugan (no idea how that is spelled) for the main Inti Raymi celebration. All 24 communities in the area went and for some, including Agualong, attendance was mandatory. Seriously, the charge you the bus fare as well as $5 per person who doesn't attend. Seems kind of contradictory to the idea of what a party is in general, but maybe that is my Western point of view. My host mom wasn't too excited about going though but she had to, so we went.
It was a crazy and pretty incredible thing to see. There were hundreds of people there, food stands, ice cream vendors walking around and even cotton candy! Each community brought a large selection of gifts for the community that was hosting. We had 13 live chickens in our bus as well as fruit baskets, bread, and some soda to give the community. Each community dances in a circle up to the main stage and then gives their gifts. In the end, the host community gives some of the stuff back for each community to split up when they get home. Somehow what the get back has to do with how much they bring next year. The community that hosts is decided by lottery each year and although it is an honor it ends up costing them quite a lot of money.
I danced with Agualongo, the community where I live, which was a weird experience. The dance is basically just stomping around so it was pretty easy to learn, but also quite tiring. After dancing with them I was with the other gringos from Tandana and we were asked to dance with three more communities. Helped us earn the fried cheese empanadas we had afterwards.
Last weekend the teenage boys from Agualongo danced and played the drums in a little group going from house to house in our community and the two next door. Luckily they came to us at 8:30pm when I was still awake so I filmed some of it and it didn't wake me up in the middle of the night. Tyler, the other volunteer, wasn't so lucky. When they dance from house to house each family is supposed to give them something to eat or drink. I think people are less and less strict about it now, but my host mom said that when she was a kid they used to make a huge vat of chicha (corn alcohol) and have it ready for the dancers who would come every day for the whole month. I'm so glad it is only on the weekends now.
Next Sunday we are headed to another community to do it all over again. Sounds exhausting but I bet it will be cool, and it is definitely a unique experience!
 |
| The community of Panacillo, where Tyler the other intern lives. He and Hauna are dancing (they are the ones who look like white people) |
Two Sundays ago the entire community of Agualongo took the bus to Combugan (no idea how that is spelled) for the main Inti Raymi celebration. All 24 communities in the area went and for some, including Agualong, attendance was mandatory. Seriously, the charge you the bus fare as well as $5 per person who doesn't attend. Seems kind of contradictory to the idea of what a party is in general, but maybe that is my Western point of view. My host mom wasn't too excited about going though but she had to, so we went.
It was a crazy and pretty incredible thing to see. There were hundreds of people there, food stands, ice cream vendors walking around and even cotton candy! Each community brought a large selection of gifts for the community that was hosting. We had 13 live chickens in our bus as well as fruit baskets, bread, and some soda to give the community. Each community dances in a circle up to the main stage and then gives their gifts. In the end, the host community gives some of the stuff back for each community to split up when they get home. Somehow what the get back has to do with how much they bring next year. The community that hosts is decided by lottery each year and although it is an honor it ends up costing them quite a lot of money.
 |
| Tyler dancing with a chicken. |
 |
| The women dance with fruit baskets. I didn't get to try, but was informed that they are very heavy. |
I danced with Agualongo, the community where I live, which was a weird experience. The dance is basically just stomping around so it was pretty easy to learn, but also quite tiring. After dancing with them I was with the other gringos from Tandana and we were asked to dance with three more communities. Helped us earn the fried cheese empanadas we had afterwards.
 |
| Each community dances with a stick of live chickens and then gives them to the host community as a gift. We found where all of them are stored. |
Last weekend the teenage boys from Agualongo danced and played the drums in a little group going from house to house in our community and the two next door. Luckily they came to us at 8:30pm when I was still awake so I filmed some of it and it didn't wake me up in the middle of the night. Tyler, the other volunteer, wasn't so lucky. When they dance from house to house each family is supposed to give them something to eat or drink. I think people are less and less strict about it now, but my host mom said that when she was a kid they used to make a huge vat of chicha (corn alcohol) and have it ready for the dancers who would come every day for the whole month. I'm so glad it is only on the weekends now.
Next Sunday we are headed to another community to do it all over again. Sounds exhausting but I bet it will be cool, and it is definitely a unique experience!
No comments:
Post a Comment