A fiery combination of a pagan and Christan celebration, St. John's day is celebrated on the night of it's eve, June 23. This year, the the year of the bicentennial, they decided to have a festival in the main square: El Cabildo.
This was the same place where back in 1995, 7 civilians were shot and killed by snipers in a huge protest that ended in the resignation of the president Raul Cubas.
But back to more pleasant things: Celebrations
Along with the Jesuits back during Paraguay's colonization came the celebration of the birth of Saint John the baptist, supposedly 6 months before the birth of Christ and coincides with the winter solstice, or that take place on a day between June 21 and June 24, and the preceding evening.
The celebration was originally scheduled for the day of the 24th, but weather conditions were not the best for an outdoor celebration. It had rained all wee so it was scheduled to Saturday. It still rained but in Paraguay the party must ALWAYS go on!
During this festival there are special games that people engage in in between snacking on the delicious typical foods:
Pelota tata. (Fire ball)
The pelota tata is a must have at any decent San Juan Festival. Like several other things this is a rag ball soaked in kerosene and lit. This ball, still tit is kicked around the premises of the festival until it's burnt out.After this they proceed to light other things on fire.
El Toro Candil (the lit bull)
he next thing that's lit and trusted through the crowd is a bull costume. Not the entire bull is lit, only the fake horns which are also made out of wire and rags and soaked in kerosene. The costume is usually made out of a wooden or wire frame and the head is usually the skull of an actual cow. A truly scary image in the dark of night but also a San Juan must have.
Judas Kai (Burning Judas)
This one is not lit and burned to a crisp until the very end of the night. A full human sized doll, also made or rags and wire and completely stuffed with firecrackers. The Judas is dressed to look like and represent a person in the community that nobody likes or has done political or social damage. Many politicians are burned on this day every year.
Tatapyi Ari Jehasa (walking over burning coal)
Coals are lit and then after the flames die out the coals are then spread over an area of approximately 125 ft x 5 ft where individuals must tread barefoot. Brave Christians remove their footwear and then walk over the burning coals shouting out "Viva San Juan".
Naturally there are some trucks to this game. First your feel must be bone dry. There shouldn't be traces of ash over the coals either. The third is faith and confidence that you won't get third degree burns on the bottom of your feet.
Yvyra Syi (slippery pole)
This another very popular game. It consists in a long vertical pole that is greased up all the way to the top. At the top there's a cross from which assorted prizes hang from; money, candy, beer, or the popular "Canha" (sugar cane liquor)
Anyone who dares may try to climb the pole and retrieve the goodies dangling from the top. Not everyone does as the greasy pole will most definitely stain and ruin your outfit. However there are a few people that come dressed as "Cambas", wearing their most worn out clothes an concealing their faces with black grease, paint or coal so they can get into trouble and play with fire without anyone telling their mother the next day ;)
Paila Jeheréi (licking the pan)
Another tradition on this festive day. Participants are blindfolded and their hands tied behind their backs and then spun around to spatially disorient them. Then, they are set loose and pushed towards where he to try to locate a hanging pan (usually iron cast) that has a single coin stuck on it, usually with pig fat. The goal is to try to find the hanging pan and use your tongue to unstick the coin.
I know what you're thinking. Gross. It is, but cleanliness in Paraguay was never a priority. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right? So believe me when I tell you that despite all the dangers of flaming bulls and soccer balls, bacteria smothered greasy pans and people rarely washing their hands before the eat an empadada, no one gets hurt and San Juan's Eve is one of the most awaited days of the year for many Paraguayans, including myself
I know what you're thinking. Gross. It is, but cleanliness in Paraguay was never a priority. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right? So believe me when I tell you that despite all the dangers of flaming bulls and soccer balls, bacteria smothered greasy pans and people rarely washing their hands before the eat an empadada, no one gets hurt and San Juan's Eve is one of the most awaited days of the year for many Paraguayans, including myself
Special thanks to Rosa Rios and www.sanjanjuegos.blogspot.com!
Muchas gracias Rosa Rios por as fotos tan hermosas que sacaste!! y tambien al sanjuanjuegos.blogspot.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment