These rituals are performed in the space surrounding the main house or Uta, the one that is in the ranch or “estancia”. There are usually stone corrals near the house where the animals are kept. Even when it is a space that cannot be categorized as one of a everyday use, due to the type of shepherding that the Aymara people practise, we cannot say that it is part of the “undomesticated landscape". It would rather be a middle ground, because even though the distance between the pen and the house is different for each family, depending on the geographical features or just of the quantity of animals held, in all cases these are connected to the dwelling by paths drawn on the ground through use, without the labour of clearing vegetation or other activities that occur in these intermediate zones.
For those families that maintain some sort of agricultural activity, the lands devoted to this job are not are not necessarily in the areas near the Uta. Due to the
climatic conditions of the “altiplano” and high valleys, places used for farming can be far away from the housing, usually in the proximity of a permanent water source or in some area specially prepared by some kind of hydraulic engineering works such as irrigation canals or planting terraces. As pens, these spaces are connected to the Uta through certain defined walking paths.
The main agricultural fertility rites are the Marca, the Floreo of animals and the carnival. Also some people enact some ceremonies within the family ambit at the time of planting, where they say prayers and offer libations accompanied with coca and alcohol. In some cases for December 24th Aymara people make small figures representing “llamas” (camelids of the Andes).
The Marca of new animals (quillpa) and the Floreo of the herds (waiño), that involves decorating the cattle with wool of bright colours, is a ritual intended to promote the fertility of the cattle. Is usually done in January or February, between Easter and carnival, and lasts one or two days depending on the size of the herd and the number of participating guests. The family that owns the herd builds a table, an awayu (a specially knitted piece of fabric) lying on the ground on which they place a series of ritual elements, usually in even numbers, chaired by one or two stuffed cougars or bobcats, which are considered awatiri or pastor of the herd. The party starts early with a wilancha, the ritual sacrifice of an animal, whose blood is offered to the Pachamama, the grazing areas, and the hills (Mallkus) protectors or guardians (Uywiri) of the community. The meat of the sacrificed animal is eaten in a ritual feast and the bones are burned or ritually buried, as they are believed to give rise to more livestock. The feast is completed with "bandolas", a small 16-string guitar, accompanying the praise and dance that mimic the animals, in the yard, and then they return to the backyard of the house where the party continues until dawn.
“Planting of potatoes” (pachallampe). It is done in early November. Three or four “alférez” (ensigns), related to the saints, are carried on a donkey from the church, where the seeds have been blessed for use in the festival ritual. They go to the site of the “alférez” where they sow the seeds in a ritual environment with singing, dancing and music. It lasts one day.
The harvest (guatia) is conducted in March-April, at the time of the harvest of potatoes and corn, traditional Andean crops. This is a series of thanksgiving "meals".
The guatia is the Andean “curanto” (typical celebration meal in southern Chile) including potatoes, corn (in the form of small “tamales”) and different types of meat (usually “llama” and chicken) cooked in a hole in the ground. The family usually holds it, with guests.
“Cruz de Mayo” (Cross of May / Maypole) is performed in early May, based on an old European holiday. “alférez” are appointed (usually a pair) that take charge of the festival. They head to the hills where they set up crosses, "dress" them (decorated with colour ribbons), and also form arches adorned with ribbons. In some parts the crosses are taken from the hills down to the community church. In other communities the celebration is held in the same hills12.
The carnival (anata) is a collective ritual action with more participants, designed to thank the Pachamama for the “first fruits of agriculture”, the participants with bundles on their backs and carrying these products in their hands. It is a very happy holiday, which lasts for two days now (it used to last up to eight days), is held in the central town of the community, and organised by two “alférez”, one for each area (manqha and arajj saya). Until a few years ago, one of the most striking aspects was the entrance to the carnival of riders with leather leggings and spurs, mounted on mules, carrying
12 Gavilán, V. op. cit., pp.1-43.
bridles of silver, among also “kulebrillas” (handmade ornamentations). The ritual includes wilancha of animals and offerings specifically geared to the Pachamama.
There are allusive and improvised songs and dances in circles, which are usually organised in the form of a competition between the two factions of the community13. During this event, the kena or pinkillo (types of Andean flute) is heard, accompanying the singing and dancing groups that move in a circular way.
3.1.2.3 THE RITES OF PASSAGE AND FESTIVALS RELATED TO LIFE CYCLE