Passing on identity
Sr Mary Nolan
Traditions are passed on from one generation to the next in Peru and help people to build their identities.
I never cease to be amazed at the special moments that open up as one lives among the people of the Andes. One of these happened just before the rainy season began in Vinchos, Ayacucho - the season for tilling and planting.
Don Eusebio, the president of the Senior Citizens’ group of the village, invited me to join with his family for the ceremony of Amarro de Toros (yoking the bulls). I duly went to the field indicated on the following Saturday, and found Eusebio with Maxi his wife, and about 15 neighbours with their children and grandchildren.
The first stage of the ceremony had already taken place: the bulls stood there yoked - a novice and one with two years’ experience of ploughing with the wooden plough. Both of them were adorned with floral wreaths. We sat for a while in the shade of the tree watching them. Then Eusebio asked permission from the group to begin the next stage. He gave a short introduction in Quechua (the local language) in which the word bendición (blessing) was spoken a few times. Then he led the people by kneeling to pray. It was a long prayer in Spanish which all the older people knew by heart. 
When the prayer was finished we sat around again and a man with his son prepared little bouquets of flowers which were passed around to all. With them we decorated our hats. Then the local brew chicha de jora, was shared, a part of each serving being poured on the earth. This was followed by the chewing of cocoa leaves. After a respectful silence another man rose and tried to steer the bulls around the field, helped by one of the youth. When their energy was spent they returned to the group; now it was time to eat. The big dish of puca picante (a local dish of chopped potatoes, chopped beetroot, ground peanuts and hot spice) was served to all. Following this came time for drinking, music and dance.
I returned home reflecting on life in Vinchos. The older people are holders of a rich tradition and their customs often seem to unite heaven and earth. Life in the rural areas at 3,000m above sea level is not easy, but the people have the capacity to sprinkle moments of joy and celebration into even the dullest of tasks. They know it will be a season of hard work as they team up with their animals to plough and harrow the land.
Following the planting it will demand months of tending before harvest-time. They’re totally dependent on God for suitable weather for the crops, so they pray together for a blessing as they begin the work. I was glad that so many of their children participated in that ceremony. They’re enriched by what is being passed on to them.
