Like every first of August, in the center of Andean culture, homage is paid to the great Pachamama either Mother Earth. And although the celebration officially corresponds to that particular date, the truth is that, for the original inhabitants of Latin Americathe festivities extend throughout the month.
What is celebrated on Pachamama or Mother Earth Day?
This is a day to surrender tribute to Pacha, that engenders life, nourishes and protects. Pachamama is the female goddess of land and fertilitybut his original name, Pacha, also refers to the universe and time.
In the Inca tradition it is a very important deity because it is the one of the communal farming, that underpins their entire civilization. Of the Inca beliefs, it is probably the one that survives with more intensity. In the provinces of northwestern Argentina, its celebration is lived strongly.
As it is celebrated?
On August 1, more than a celebration takes place: It is a day to feed the Pachamama and offer her everything that one wants so that her family does not lack throughout the year.
The ritual axis of the celebration, based on an offering of reciprocity, is maintained and transmitted between generations. Food, drinks, and other offerings are usually offered to him. It is also the right day to clean the home. Many people use to collect all the garbage that is in the house and burn it together with incense or aromatic herbs.
In some Andean communities, for example, the custom of burying a clay pot filled with cooked food persists. In this, coca leaves, seeds, fruits, fermented drinks based on corn and peanuts, among other things, are also added. There are also other popular traditions such as drinking a glass of cane with rue in the morning to be healthy, just before the start of a cold month.
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How to do a ritual for Pachamama?
Those who maintain the tradition thoroughly, carry out on the first of August the Guest Ritual either corpached. It takes place at dawn, at noon or at dawn.
The ritual consists of opening a circular well in the ground and offering products of nature, food, drinks, coca leaves, to Mother Earth there, as an act of gratitude to the planet. It is believed that what is offered will return.
During the ritual, thanks are given for life, health, work and food. It is also asked for the strength to get up every day and to be able to help everyone, especially those who need it most, to achieve harmony and understanding.
The ritual is usually accompanied by two sacred fires, one inside the well, fed with aromatic leaves, incense, palo santo and pieces of paper with positive intentions; and another one outside, larger, in which small pieces of paper with defects or errors are burned to purify them. According to the ritual, this is how the elements of fire and air are activated.
Then, to activate the water element, the well is “chaya” offering drinks. This can be done at any time of the year, throwing the first drink before drinking. In August, it is done on your knees and with both hands).
Finally, leaving the food offerings in the well activates the earth element and returns to Pacha what he has given us. Finally, the well is covered with stones and flower petals and is celebrated with songs, dances, food and drink. When you don’t have a patio, you can symbolically carry out the ritual in a pot, so as not to stop giving thanks.