| Many Incan festivals are still celebrated in Bolivia,
although some have been combined with Roman Catholic holidays. Departments
and cities also have their own fiestas, which are usually celebrated
with parades and dancing. Every community has a patron saint and holds
parties called prestes every year to honour the saint. Certain people
are chosen by the community to host this party, which can be quite expensive.
The Alasitas Fair in La Paz in January
honours the Aymara God, Ekeko. During this festival, people buy miniature
copies of goods they would like to obtain during the year, such as cars
and appliances. Another large festival in La Paz is the Festividad de
Nuestro Señor Jesús del Gran Poder (Festival of Our Powerful
Lord Jesus Christ), celebrated in May or June. |
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| Carnival occurs just before Lent, the season of
fasting leading up to Easter. Carnival is a time of street parties, dancing
and feasting. The largest Carnival celebration takes place in Oruro. People
dress up in bright costumes and wear plaster masks. They dance la diablada
(the devil's dance) to a church where they are blessed by a priest. The
next day they go to mass and then perform the dance again.
In Tarabuco, people celebrate the defeat of the
Spanish troops on March 21 with a holiday called Phujllay (the Quechua
word for "play"). On May 27, Bolivians honour the Heroínas de
la coronilla (Heroines of Coronilla). This day commemorates the bravery
of the women who protected Cochabamba from the Spanish forces during the
Revolutionary War. The men of Cochabamba had gone out to fight when the
Spanish attacked the town, so the women had to defend themselves. This
holiday is now Bolivia's Mother's Day. |
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| On November 1, the Day of the Dead or All Saints
Day, Bolivians bring food and drink to the graves of family members. Special
bread dolls, candies and even small boats are placed on the graves to help
relatives in the afterlife.
Christmas is a more festive occasion in the cities
than it is in rural areas. In La Paz, people celebrate Christmas with music
and there are displays in the shops. Children go from house to house singing,
accompanied by harmonicas and handmade instruments. |
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Did you know? |
| On
August 16, the day of the Fiesta of San Roque, the patron saint of dogs,
animals are decorated with ribbons. |
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Did you know? |
| Many
special dances are associated with festivals. La morenada re-enacts
the story of black slaves in Bolivia. T'inkus are dance-like ritual
fights. Caparales is a dance representing the plight of slaves.
A special dance called the auqui-auqui is performed by old men to
make fun of the rich. |
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| January 1 |
New Year’s
Day |
| March or April |
Easter |
| May 1 |
Labour
Day |
| June |
Corpus
Christi |
| August 6 |
Independence
Day |
| November 1 |
Day of
the Dead/All Saints Day |
| December 25 |
Christmas
Day |
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