La fiesta dorada del chagra

This weekend I went back to my training community with a few other people to experience the "golden festivals of the plowed fields." I'd guess that the closest analog in the U.S. would be a harvest festival (though I've never been to one).

First, all the families gathered in their respective houses. The men who had guitars brought them and they practiced a bit. Then each family went as a group to the center of town--the soccer field. Once all the families had congregated, they took turns entering the so-called bullfighting arena.

Each family would sing a traditional song (each family had their own, different, song) while dancing in circles. The men wore masks that made them look like women. I asked them why they do this, and I was told that it is the tradition. Upon further inquiry, it appears that nobody knows where the tradition started. As one guy put it, "maybe some dude just decided to wear a mask 100 years ago, and we went with it."

After the festival, there was a big dance. Then we went home, where we were awakened every hour or so by groups of people singing and dancing and asking to be let in. This is basically what we would call a parranda in Puerto Rico.

We came on the next-to-last day of the festival and stayed the night with our old host families. In the process, we met the new volunteers that are currently staying with them.

With no further ado, here is a selection of the pictures and videos that I took that day.

Mt. Cayambe overlooks La Chimba, and looks pretty impressive on a clear day.

As we passed through Olmedo, we ran into a family that was walking the same route we were, singing and dancing the whole way.

This is my favorite picture. Notice that the lady is holding a live chicken. In that group, every woman had a chicken, and every man was colorfully dressed.

One of the families. Notice that they have a guitar and a violin, and that the men are wearing masks to make them look like women.

The soccer field/fairgrounds area.

My host family. My little host sister and mother are the two women in the group that are facing the camera.

View from the stands. Notice how each family is in their own group. Each family brought presents for the audience, in the form of oranges and candy. Whoever shouted and waved their arms the most would receive the most gifts.

Video of the view from the stands. Notice how the families throw oranges towards the youths, who crowd each other to try to catch them.

Video of the action from down below.

We caught quite a few oranges :).

Pandemonium, as the arena filled up. Notice Tony looking cheerful in the bottom-right corner.

The next morning, fighting the chuchaqui (hangover) while hanging out with my little host sister. The joven with the guitar is a family member who's showing me how to play the basic chords. They tune their guitars differently, in such a way that the basic 3 chords that are the backbone of every traditional song are very easy to play. This is a necessity, as the players are often incredibly drunk.

My little sister feeding their ternera.

My host dad making soup for breakfast in the biggest pot I've ever seen. Check out the awesomely huge spoon.

In this community, I am pretty tall. Some of you may notice that I'm wearing a little red ribbon. This was pinned on me by la madrina de La Chimba--Miss La Chimba. It is a symbol of her thanks for attending.

My little brother, Toño, suited up and ready to head out.

Hanging out with the family.

The family warming up their vocal and guitar chords.

Video of my host family practicing their singing.