The Earth Day Celebration in the Andes
On August 1st, Earth Day or Pachamama Day is celebrated in the high Andean communities of Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Argentina. The Andes region is characterized by its deep cultural and folk heritage from the Inca and pre-Inca cultures that is expressed in their festivals, customs and traditions.
1. What does Pachamama mean?
To understand the meaning of the Quechua word "Pachamama" we must first break it down into its two parts: on the one hand we have the term 'Pacha' which means earth, world, universe, time and on the other hand we have the term 'Mama' which means mom. Thus we have the two terms together the meaning of ‘Mother Earth’ or ‘Mother World’.
2. What is celebrated on the day of Pachamama?
It is important to know that the majority of high Andean communities have had and have a deep dependence and connection with agriculture, the month of August being the month in which grooves are usually made in the ground, preparing it to receive the seeds and therefore the new ones harvests On the day of the Pachamama, the Andean man tries to returnm to the earth everything he has received from it, showing his gratitude and asking her that the coming crops are also abundant and prosper.
3. Who celebrates the day of Pachamama?
The countrymen, housewives, workers, farmers, children, authorities, neighborhood boards and other organizations participate in the Pachamama day festivities.
4. How is Pachamama day celebrated?
As part of the celebrations for the day of Pachamama, the men and women of the high Andean communities meet on August 1st in a ceremony that includes among other things:
- A hole or hole dug in the ground, which is where all offerings and gifts for Pacha Mama will be placed. This hole has a depth of 50 centimeters and a diameter of approximately 1 meter, depending on the number of gifts and the size of the ceremony.
- A wool blanket or ‘Lliclla’ which is the garment with which the gifts will be wrapped, before covering them with dirt.
- Fetuses of animals, generally used fetuses of lamb, alpaca or llama. it symbolizes fertility.
- Beer, food, coca leaf, cigars, confetti, candy, cookies.
The idea is to ‘make the Pacha Mama eat, drink and smoke’. At the end of the ceremony, wood or firewood is placed in the hollow, all the above is wrapped with lliclla and finally everything is consumed by fire, and then covered with earth. Throughout the ceremony people drink beer, consume various typical dishes and celebrate with dances and music.
5. Inca mythology
The Incas had a "pantheistic" religion that is to say that they believed that the creator God and nature (mountains, valleys, rivers, rays, thunder, etc.) were really a single entity or concept. The Incas did not know the writing so that most of the traditions and myths have been transmitted orally from generation to generation.
Pre-Inca civilizations (Moches, Chimus, Chankas, Tiahuanakus, jungle ethnicities, etc.), shared with the Incas their way of believing in a single entity that represented both God and nature. The Incas knew this and that was one of the pillars of success they had in spreading this type of belief throughout their empire.
According to the worldview of the Incas, space and time was divided into three planes:
5.1. Hanan Pacha.- This word means ‘the world above’. It was the celestial world, reserved for those people who had been fair during their life and which was accessed through a bridge made with hair. In this higher world the most important gods like Wiracocha inhabit, as we will expand later.
5.2. Kay Pacha.- This word means ‘the present world, the here and now’. It is the world where humans, animals and some Gods like Pachamama, Mama Sara and Pariacaca live.
5.3. Uku Pacha.- This word means ‘the world below, the world of the dead’. In this world according to the Andean mythology live the unborn children, the dead and everything that was below the surface of the earth or the sea. They believed that the caves, fountains and other openings on the earth's surface were actually the portals or connection lines between the Uku Pacha and the Kay Pacha. The most important God in this world is called ‘Supay’ although Goddess Mama Cocha and God Pachacamac also live there.
6. What types of Gods did the Incas believe in?
As we had already mentioned, the Inca religion was pantheistic, that is, it believed in a single entity that represented both creation and nature, however the only God in the full sense of the word was Wiracocha, the creator God, the World Teacher according to their importance and role, the Gods lived in the following planes:
6.1. Hanan Pacha Gods
- Wiracocha.- The first records of this God date back to cultures older than the Inca, such as the Huari, the Chavin and Caral, as well as the Tiahuanacu. The Incas took this concept and adapted it in their religion. It is believed that Wiracocha emerged from the Waters and created heaven and earth. According to the traditions, he had a partner, a golden hummingbird that could see both the future and the past. In most of the lithic representations found in Wiracocha, you can see him holding in both hands two ‘Huaracas’ (Andean slings).
- The Inti or Sun God.- One of the most important Gods or representations of the Inca culture. He was believed to be the son of Wiracocha, although in fact his exact origin is unknown. The Sun was revered as an important factor of life, because it provides heat and light, likewise, the farmers trusted him to ensure a good year of crops.
- Mama Quilla or Moon Goddess.- She was considered the wife of Inti or God Sun and mother of the sky.
- Illapa or God of rain thunder and lightning.- He was considered brother and companion of the Inti.
- Punchao or Chaska.- The companion of the Goddess Quilla. It is believed to be the planet Venus.
- Chuychu or God of the Rainbow.
6.2. Kay Pacha Gods
- Pacha Mama.- This divinity represents both the physical earth and nature, it is the mother who gives us food, drinks, protects us and gives us a home. It does not exist in a specific place or time to find it: it is present in the elements of nature such as rivers, forests, mountains, lakes. It is the deity that shelters and protects us while giving us fertility. On the day of Pachamama, the man from the Andes seeks to give back all this generosity and protection.
- Mama Wayra.- Goddess of the winds.
- Mama Nina.- Goddess of light, fire and volcanoes.
- Mama Sara.- Goddess of corn or food.
- Pariacaca.- God of the rains and fertility as well as animals and wild fruits.
- Huallallo Carhuancho.- Main God of the Wanka culture. It is considered an evil or negative entity.
- Mallko.- Represents the law.
6.3. Uku Pacha Gods
- Yatañamca and Tutañamca.- Twin gods representing darkness and night.
- Pachacamac.- God of earthquakes, also considered one of the creator Gods of the earth. Self-exiled in the seas and oceans.
- Mama Cocha.- It was the deity that represented everything feminine, to which tribute was paid to obtain a good fishing and also to calm the whitewater.
- Supay.- This God reigns the world of the dead and according to traditions they always claim or ask for more ‘visitors’ to come. It was considered by the Spaniards as the representation of the devil but nevertheless this God also has some positive characteristics.
The Andean culture has a rich collection of folklore, tradition, culture and art that are present in its most important cultural events, such as the Pacha Mama tribute. We invite you to discover this and much more in the company of our team of professionals from MiTicketMachuPicchu.com
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