El Dia de la Pachamama

Yesterday was a holiday celebrating Mother Earth (la Madre de la Tierra). Laura and Miguel had a small fiesta to celebrate and to demonstrate the ceremony that is done. Since it is a day to celebrate Mother Earth, who provides for us throughout the year, the ceremony is our chance to give back and show our thanks. So in one of the patios, Miguel dug a small hole. Within the hole, they pour water and wine. They also spread incense, and put in coca leaves, cigarettes, fake money, rice, and other types of food (everything in very small quantities of course). After each person has given back to Mother Earth, they cover up the hole and leave it there for the next year to represent their thanks and devotion to the abundance Mother Earth provides annually.

I was told this tradition originated from the indigenous tribes of this area and is not celebrated throughout Argentina.

Miguel also had friends over to help us celebrate. They were a family who lives out in the mountains and had come into town for the past two weeks for the winter vacation’s feria, selling their goods. I had actually bought a blanket from them made from llama’s wool earlier that day. And for the main meal, our guests had brought llama meat. So last night, I ate llama.

It did not taste like chicken. It tasted similar to beef, but was less greasy, and very tasty. Also, in order to make sure everyone ate together, we didn’t end up eating until 11:30pm (which is a record for me) and while I only lasted until about 1:30am, I believe the party kept going for a while after.

It was one of more interesting “religious” ceremonies I’ve been to, since it’s the only one that isn’t based on a monotheistic textbook religion that is normally taught. It is a community’s religious practice based primarily on what they are given, since that is what keeps them living. While a majority is Catholic, each province of Argentina is a different kind of Catholic. I don’t mean separate denominations, but each area uses Catholicism differently. Some rarely practice it. Others are extremely devoted and regularly attend religious services. Some practice it daily by doing the motions of a cross every time they pass by a church (which I see often on the bus). While others, such as Miguel, incorporate their ancestral traditions and create a new religion—a combination of the Catholic influence and one’s own religious heritage.