The amount of festivities and celebrations that can be found along our territory is quite surprising. Popular, peasant or of religious character, they blend dances, music, popular songs and rituals of diverse origin.
For example, on the North Zone, a great majority of the celebrations occur in highlands locations.
Cattle and Earth productive cycles and religious festivities are among the most important, moving entirely people from small villages.
Meantime, the Center of the country is strongly influenced by the conquerors inheritance and by the pheasants traditions, while in the South of Chile, the Mapuche influence and the celebrations throughout the whole year are performed in Chiloe.
Up next, we show you some of the most important festivities of our country, in accordance with the zone where they are performed.
North Zone
– Putre Carnival: before celebrating lent, during the last days of February, the aimaras coming from different villages from the Highlands, gather to celebrate in the Putre location, a colorful party. The majority of the rites, dances, garments and rhythms conforming the festival belong to the Andean world view.
– The Pachamama Festivity: in most of the North Zone Andean communities of our country, during August, is performed a festivity thanking mother earth for it’s
bountifulness, for it’s care of animals and protection of small villages. Throughout diverse rituals, men recognize the importance and respect to nature and it’s cycles.
– La Tirana: each July 16th, a small village located in one of the driest northern parts of our country zone disguises itself with color and religious fervor.
Heathen dances are combined with the devotion and, including, with the fanatism of thousands of devotees that arrive to the Titania’s village, located at 19 kmtrs, to adore the Virgen del Carmen of la Tirana of Tarapaca.
The festivity enhances a true rebirth of a village, that is almost completely uninhabited during the most part of the year. During a week (the festivities began near the 12 of July and end the 18th of the same month), diabladas, Chinese dances, huainos and morenadas overflow the streets of the city and the colorful disguises contrasts with the desert scenery.
The tragic legend of a couple of lovers composed by a Spaniard and a beautiful young Inca lady, known as La Tirana del Tamarugal, gave birth to this colorful festivity. A priest found a cross amid the plains, where the couple was buried, and, in this same place, built a temple that today hosts the image of the Virgen and that is visited by millions of pilgrims each year, coming from different zones of the territory, including from abroad.
During the festivities, different dancing groups show the visitors their choreographies, which come from the post Hispanic tradition and which object is to adore the Virgen. The dancers finally enter the temple accompanied by the sound of drums and trumpets.
– The Pullay Bull: during the last days of February, the Tierra Amarilla carnival is celebrated, in the location of the same name. One of it’s most outstanding festivity is the one called Toro Pullay, in which the participants recreate the rebellious spirit of the population towards all kina of abuses.
In order to perform this, the participants disguise and use masks of popular characters masks including, country and local authorities. Also, the funeral of a miner is recreated, which is visited by the widow, the priest, friends, the drunkard of the town and other characters enhancing the cunning and irony of these festivities.
– The Huasa Festivity of El Transito: in the second week of February, in El Transito locality, Alto del Carmen community, is carried on a huasa festivity combining peasants competitions with performances of the Chilean countryside and in which the end of the harvest is celebrated.
On the first day of the celebration, the festivity is animated by different folkloric and humorous groups. During the second day, the taming of ponies and young bulls are performed in the medialuna of El Transito Alto. Finally, during the third day, the festivity ends with Chilean horse races. Also, is possible to enjoy most of the different typical Chilean food, such as empanadas, cazuelas, wine and pajarete, which is a wine made in the zone.
– La Pampilla Festivity: as of the 17th. Till the 21rst of September, in the area of Coquimbo known as La Pampilla a festivity is celebrated that gathers a great amount of people, coming from everywhere from Chile. Among Chilean horse races, typical food and a festivity that, in the latter years has had internationally famous artists, is celebrated the largest popular festivity in Chile.
This celebration dates since 1864, in which year some military exercises began to be performed by the Brigada Civica de Artilleria (Artillery Civil Brigade). These attracted a great quantity of people that seize the situation to celebrate the Fiestas Patrias (National Holdays) in the same place, carrying, including provisions for several days. Nevertheless, there are those who attribute the origin of this celebration to the triumph of the neighbors of the place to the corsair Bartolome Sharp or to the celebration performed in the port of Coquimbo after its population acknowledged, with two days of delay of the instauration of the first Governmental Council, in 1810.
Central zone
– Valparaiso cultural carnival: a real urban festival takes place in this coastal city during the first fortnight of December. The activity is sponsored by the National Council of Culture and Art and the Municipality of Valparaiso. These carnivals began in 2001 with the intention of positioning the city as a place of encounter after being nominated to become a World Heritage Site. Every year, one city is invited to show their most emblematic artistic expressions. It lasts nearly four days in which there is an exchange of different experiences.
– Cruz de Mayo (Cross of May): during the Spanish conquering, the missionaries and evangelizers used the cross as a means to grow closer to the indigenous people.
Since they didn’t speak the same language, they used this important symbol of Christian faith to instill the idea of God. For this reason, they set it up in a visible spot and organized groups to worship it.
Presently, this tradition remains present in a few locations of the central zone. A procession through the streets is conducted, with adorned crosses and candles, in which alms are requested for the less fortunate.
– Loose mare threshing: in different peasant areas of Chile, like San Esteban, San Javier or Florida, a typical farming task is performed that dates back to Colonial days.
Following the old tradition, during the loose mare threshing, horses and mares run in circles, stomping the sheaves of wheat in order to separate it from the grain straw. The vent takes place during the summer months and is livened by folkloric groups, Chilean dishes and typical games, like greyhound racing and rodeos, among others.
– Fiesta de la Virgen de las 40 horas (40 hour Virgin Festival): it is a religious festivity that has taken place for over one hundred years in the city of Limache on the last Sunday of February. It is meant to honor the image of the Virgin located n the Santa Cruz parish, which is placed in the street to receive tokens of affection.
The story goes that this cult began when a group of fishermen from Concon found a statue of the Virgin floating dressed in white and with a blue shawl; later on, a citizen of Limache acquired the image and began to worship it at home until the place couldn’t contain the immense amount of faithful and was transferred to the city parish.
The festival coincides with the 40 hour exhibition of the Holy Sacrament, hence its name.
– Quasimodo: one week after Easter, the festival of Quasimodo is held in some rural locations of our country.
During this celebration, the town parish priest and his entourage hand out communion to the sick and those that cannot access directly in parishes and churches. Tradition says that the community began to accompany this group in case they were attacked by bandits.
Despite the fact that many believe this tradition comes from Colonial times, there are only valid records of cuasimodista caravans traveling rural roads during the conformation of the Republic.
To this day, a caravan of men on horseback follows the priest that carries the body of Christ. The first of them is called a campanillero (bell ringer), for he is responsible for announcing the arrival of the priest with his bell; further behind, two huasos carry a Chilean and Vatican flag, while a third carries a banner that represents the cuasimodista community. The priest is transported in a barouche and a row of huasos dressed in white and yellow gowns are behind him.
The caravan stops at the spots that requested the delivery of the holy communion, and normally the houses receive the priest with an altar especially prepared for the occasion.
– La quema de Judas (The burning of Judas): during Easter, precisely at dawn of Resurrection (Easter) Sunday, in some hills of Valparaiso and in other zones of the country like Alto Jahuel and Alhue, the burning of a human-sized doll takes place. It is hung in a public place and represents Judas.
Filled with straw and coins and dresses in clothes provided by the locals, the tradition is rooted in the Gospel, because Judas died by hanging and before he died he threw out the coins he had received in exchange for handing over Jesus.
During the burning of the doll, people also perform a public trial of the apostle.
– San Pedro Celebration: most coves and ports of the country celebrate the festival of San Pedro, the patron saint of fishermen, every June 28th.
During the celebration, different groups of fishermen gather to ask their patron for a good catch and abundance, health and favorable conditions for work at sea. First, a mass is held, and then, a procession of images of the saint takes place through the cove. The parade is also accompanied by Chinese dances and allegories.
Finally, the procession takes to the sea. The boats that carry the image of Saint Peter and the Virgin are followed by vessels decorated with flowers. They take a tour around the location.
– Fiesta de la vendimia (Harvest festival): this event is celebrated in different zones of the country. It is linked to one of the most important agricultural processes: grape picking.
In Colchagua valley, specifically Santa Cruz, this festival is held every year and it brings together Chile’s most outstanding vineyards. The harvest is celebrated each year along with typical dances, tastings and even the traditional sieving of the grapes.
Southern zone
– San Sebastian religious festivities: every January and March 20th, in Yumbel they celebrate a festival that worships the patron saint of peasants, San Sebastian. Faithful from different parts of the country flood the streets of this small town to worship the saint.
– Wetripantu (mapuche new year): on June 24th, the mapuches celebrate the arrival of a new year. This rite, which is directly linked to the cycles of nature, commemorates a psychic and intellectual renewal of the mapuche people.
Unlike other festivities, it is traditionally an intimate affair that brings families together around a bonfire. Each member brings food, meat and tortillas, which will be consumed during the celebration. Family stories are also told and there is dancing and singing.
Before dawn, everybody heads to the closest stream, river or brook to bathe and purify themselves.
This way, they await sunrise with their body and mind renewed.
– Blessing of the ears: in the area of Los Mayos, in Yungay, during the second week of December a festival is held that combines peasant traditions with local religion. The ears of wheat are blessed in a mass in order to bring abundance, and later, payadores and folk singers liven up the day.
– Valdiviana week: the anniversary of the city of Valdivia is the reason behind this celebration, which mobilizes the entire community as of February 9th. Civilian-military parades, pageants that chose the queen of Los Rios and an important arts and crafts fair are just a few of the activities that take place during this celebration.
During the valdiviana night, the festivities conclude with fireworks and a parade of boats down the Calle Calle river. Each one of them is decorated especially for the occasion.
– Nguillatun in Futrono: although many mapuche communities perform this rite that petitions wellbeing quite frequently, one can see it between February 12th and 14th in Futrono, on the banks of Rango lake. The collective ritual, in which people beg for the wellbeing of the community and harvest, has different stages that combine offerings, animal sacrifices, female dances and galloping in circles, among other customs.
– Punta Arenas livestock fair: the first week of February a fair is held in Punta Arenas that combines business with traditional regional activities. In addition, one may try typical dishes from the area (like barbecued Magellan lamb) and attend horse and dog shows.
Celebrations in Chiloe
Different festivities take place in the greater island of Chiloe all year, which combine customs, legends and traditions unique to this part of our territory.
In the summer months, in this comuna (county) one may see Chilean style races, a sampling of typical foods in Pid-Pid, the costumbrista festival of Yutuy, the sea festival in Quehui and the great chilote maja (crush) of Llau-Llao, in which apple chicha (a kind of cider) is made by hand, among other celebrations.
For the festivities of San Juan (Saint John), which are celebrated on June 24th, the community also comes together around traditions and myths. Meanwhile, in July, the celebration of the great chilote yoco takes place, a festival in which different dishes are prepared that have meat and lard as their main ingredient.
