Christmas is a time of peace and love for almost everyone in the world since some countries or cultures have very particular traditions that coincide with the Christmas season but that completely escape its more traditional spirit. One of them occurs in South America, and specifically in Peru, so that we explain now what is Takanuy, the controversial tradition of Peru to celebrate Christmas.
Many are traditions that we can find among ancient civilizations, some of which are part of indigenous tribes in areas of the world such as Latin America. One of these is the Takanuy that, although it has an end that would be entirely good or kind, the truth is that the means is surprising to say the least.
What is Takanakuy and what is celebrated
Takanakuy It is a festival that is celebrated in the community of Chumbivilcas, near Cuzco (Peru) and that although it usually coincides with the Christmas season, it is a tradition in which fights are the protagonists.
TakanakuyWhat does it mean “when the blood boils” in Quechua, one of the oldest spoken dialects in Peru, is an annual celebration that offers people the opportunity to resolve their personal differences with the members of his community in the old fashioned way, through fight.
The annual festival is an indigenous tradition that has a lot to do with family honor, reputation and distrust in the judicial system. Takanakuy is seen by many as the only way to end the problems before the end of the year.
What’s Takanuy like?
During the festival, heThe participants (men, women and children) gather in the local arena, where they engage in hand-to-hand combat, under the supervision of local authorities who act as arbitrators. Wrestlers may not hit their opponents while they are on the ground, and risk being flogged if they forget this important rule.
But it’s not just the old grievances that are the only reason people get into the fight during the Takanakuy festival. Some of them just want to show their courage and skills fighting, while others want to earn the respect of the community or make your family proud. Some fighters leave the arena in pain and with blood pouring from their mouths and noses, but none of them hold a grudge, knowing that they will have a chance at a rematch the following year.
When is Takanakuy 2020
Takanakuy may seem like an explosion of senseless violence, but for the people of Chumbivilcas it is an important part of their cultural heritage. Regardless of the issues they may have with each other, fighters hug each other before a fightThey exchange a few blows and then put it all behind them and go back to being good friends. It is a simple and effective way to get rid of negative energy. So if you plan to go to Peru during the Christmas holidays, don’t miss out on this local event, which takes place specifically every December 25th, coinciding with Christmas Day.
Thus, Takanuy 2020 will be held on Friday, December 25.
Origin of Takanakuy
The Chumbivilcas it is one of the completely isolated countries, where state institutions such as police stations or courts are completely absent. This situation of serious inefficiency and absence of the Peruvian State only increases contempt for the authorities and leaves citizens in a situation of self-government. Takanakuy’s basic idea is the resolution of conflicts between individuals through cathartic combat.either. The fights accumulate throughout the year and then give rise to a Christmas collective fight with the consequent reconciliation of all those who participated.
The Takanakuy’s origins are unclear: it seems that the name derives from the reign of Tupac Amaru, the last Inca king who opposed the Spanish conquest. In preparation for the Takanakuy fights, a week-long parade is held where people drink and dance in the streets of the city. They all get together accompanied by the traditional music of Takanakuy, the waylilla or wayliya, indigenous genre born around 1560, which serves to put melody to song and dance “Huaylias of Chumbivilcas”, another tradition that has been declared as part of the Peruvian national heritage in 2016. A fusion of music and dance, the huaylias have made their way into the fabric of many of the most popular in the region. important ceremonies and rituals, in particular this celebration of Takanakuy at Christmas. So every December, the music and dance loops as costumed dancers and singers parade into the city for a front row seat to the fights.
Everyone wears the traditional Peruvian balaclava which goes back to the time when Takanakuy was the only day of the year when he could defeat the chieftain: therefore, hiding his identity was essential. Everyone, including children, wears costumes that refer to gods, basic characters that everyone personalizes always wearing the balaclava. The masks are: the Majeño, the Qarawatanna, the Negro, the Q’ara Gallo and the Langosta, for example.
Martial arts or a fight?
The Fighting style is pure street fighting with some martial arts techniques. Opponents must shake hands at the beginning and end of the fight. If the loser of the fight does not agree with the result of the fight, he can appeal for another fight. The Peruvian government has tried several times to eradicate the Takanakuy, but this tradition is spreading in urban areas such as Cuzco and Lima, where many Andean immigrants live.. There is a similar party in Bolivia also called Tinku : the celebration takes place in May in the town of Potosí.
We do not have to think that due to this tradition, Christmas in Peru is not a magical time of the year, but there are also hot chocolate and Christmas markets to experience, as well as elaborate nativity scenes and fireworks displays Christmas Eve to admire.