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| | Other_names = {{lang-ay|iqiqu}} | | Other_names = {{lang-ay|iqiqu}} | ||
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| ⚫ | == Origin == | ||
| In the ] and ] of the ] people of the ], a high plateau region which spans parts of ], ], ], ], and ], '''Ekeko''' is the god of abundance. Its origin predates the arrival of the Spanish people to America, as one of the gods of Andean culture |
In the ] and ] of the ] people of the ], a high plateau region which spans parts of ], ], ], ], and ], '''Ekeko''' is the god of abundance. Its origin predates the arrival of the Spanish people to America, as one of the gods of Andean culture. Ekeko is depicted as a man with a mustache wearing traditional Andean clothes (especially the poncho) and completely loaded with bags and baskets with grain and food, (compare with the ] of some Greco-Roman deities), household objects, and currency bills, and basically anything that a person is thought to want / need to have a comfortable and prosperous life ; he is commonly found as a little statue to be put in some place of the house, preferably a comfortable one, but also as an ] holding from key rings; modern statues of the god include a circular opening in his mouth to place there a cigarette (better if lit) for Ekeko's pleasure. Latest tradition has the ekeko "smoke" a lit cigarette (hence the rounded mouth) once a year to ensure a full year of prosperity. | ||
| Many households have the small stature version of the Ekeko. Traditionally a person is not supposed to buy an Ekeko for themselves or it won't fulfill its mission. It has to come as a present from somebody else. People offer him banknotes and/or coins to obtain money, grains for a good harvest, and some food to ensure prosperity in general. Ekeko is also known in other zones of Argentina due to immigration and internal migrations, but there his followers, who adopted him as a ] more than as a folkloric ], consider him as some kind of beneficent patron. | Many households have the small stature version of the Ekeko. Traditionally a person is not supposed to buy an Ekeko for themselves or it won't fulfill its mission. It has to come as a present from somebody else. People offer him banknotes and/or coins to obtain money, grains for a good harvest, and some food to ensure prosperity in general. Ekeko is also known in other zones of Argentina due to immigration and internal migrations, but there his followers, who adopted him as a ] more than as a folkloric ], consider him as some kind of beneficent patron. | ||
| ⚫ | == Origin == | ||
| ⚫ | The exact origin of Ekeko is not known although many countries, such as Bolivia, Peru, and Chile, claim Ekeko to be of their folklore. There have been rivalries as to whom the folklore truly belongs. Although Ekeko is known to andean people of Bolivia, Peru, Chile, and Argentina, Bolivia claims sole ownership of the Ekeko tradition and Alasitas, based on the fact that this tradition is celebrated and has its epicenter in La Paz, Bolivia, although no official declaration has been made on ownership of the tradition. | ||
| == Ekeko as central part of Alasitas == | == Ekeko as central part of Alasitas == | ||
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| At the time of this siege, people was starving to death. Isidoro was enrolled in the indigenous army. He manage to reach Paulina's house, and left her food near the statue. Both Paulina and her boss, Dona Josefa were able to survive the siege because of the food left near the statue by Isidoro. | At the time of this siege, people was starving to death. Isidoro was enrolled in the indigenous army. He manage to reach Paulina's house, and left her food near the statue. Both Paulina and her boss, Dona Josefa were able to survive the siege because of the food left near the statue by Isidoro. | ||
| == Disputes == | |||
| ⚫ | There have been rivalries as to whom the folklore truly belongs. Although Ekeko is known to andean people of Bolivia, Peru, Chile, and Argentina, Bolivia claims sole ownership of the Ekeko tradition and Alasitas, based on the fact that this tradition is celebrated and has its epicenter in La Paz, Bolivia |
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Revision as of 07:30, 24 January 2010
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In the mythology and folklore of the Aymara people of the Altiplano, a high plateau region which spans parts of Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, and Argentina, Ekeko is the god of abundance. Its origin predates the arrival of the Spanish people to America, as one of the gods of Andean culture. Ekeko is depicted as a man with a mustache wearing traditional Andean clothes (especially the poncho) and completely loaded with bags and baskets with grain and food, (compare with the cornucopia of some Greco-Roman deities), household objects, and currency bills, and basically anything that a person is thought to want / need to have a comfortable and prosperous life ; he is commonly found as a little statue to be put in some place of the house, preferably a comfortable one, but also as an amulet holding from key rings; modern statues of the god include a circular opening in his mouth to place there a cigarette (better if lit) for Ekeko's pleasure. Latest tradition has the ekeko "smoke" a lit cigarette (hence the rounded mouth) once a year to ensure a full year of prosperity.
Many households have the small stature version of the Ekeko. Traditionally a person is not supposed to buy an Ekeko for themselves or it won't fulfill its mission. It has to come as a present from somebody else. People offer him banknotes and/or coins to obtain money, grains for a good harvest, and some food to ensure prosperity in general. Ekeko is also known in other zones of Argentina due to immigration and internal migrations, but there his followers, who adopted him as a superstition more than as a folkloric deity, consider him as some kind of beneficent patron.
Origin
The exact origin of Ekeko is not known although many countries, such as Bolivia, Peru, and Chile, claim Ekeko to be of their folklore. There have been rivalries as to whom the folklore truly belongs. Although Ekeko is known to andean people of Bolivia, Peru, Chile, and Argentina, Bolivia claims sole ownership of the Ekeko tradition and Alasitas, based on the fact that this tradition is celebrated and has its epicenter in La Paz, Bolivia, although no official declaration has been made on ownership of the tradition.
Ekeko as central part of Alasitas
The Alasitas festival is held for, and hosted by, the Ekeko, each January 24 and sprawls along many streets and parks in central La Paz and smaller events are held in many neighborhoods around the city . People attend the event from all over the city and even travel from other cities inside Bolivia to buy miniature versions of goods they would like to give to somebody else. These goods can be blessed by any one of the many women or mostly men acting as shaman. It is believed that if somebody gives you a miniature version, you will get the real object in the curse of the following year. Examples of goods that can be bought are household items, food, computers, construction materials, cell phones, houses, cars, university diplomas and even figures of domestic workers, if you want to employ one the following year.
Throughout other regions the festival for the Ekeko is held in October and known by the name "'Calvario'". This spring festival also celebrates the "'abundance'" or fecundity of humanity. Governor Segurota moved it to January in La Paz after a military victory.
Ekeko's Legends
The legend of the Ekeko , as narrated by Antonio Díaz Villamil, dates around 1781 in La Paz, Bolivia. At this time, the city of La Paz was sieged by indigenous people, who were still in war with Spanish forces.
The story of the origin of the Ekeko starts with Paulita Tintaya, who was working for Dona Josefa Ursula de Rojas Foronda in La Paz.
She was in love with Isidoro Choquewanca. She left the hacienda were both grew up, and he gave her a small statue to protect her. This small statue was the Ekeko, which was known to andean people to be a god of fortune and luck.
At the time of this siege, people was starving to death. Isidoro was enrolled in the indigenous army. He manage to reach Paulina's house, and left her food near the statue. Both Paulina and her boss, Dona Josefa were able to survive the siege because of the food left near the statue by Isidoro.
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/07/americas_bolivia0s_popular_fairs/html/1.stm
- http://www.bolivian.com/alasitay2k/leyenda.html