The "Alasitas" fair is a yearly tradition in Puno, which originated in the Aymaran culture in Bolivia. At this fair you can buy just about anything- in miniature. The belief is that whatever you buy in miniature, the god Ekeko (god of abundance and prosperity) will then grant you in the coming year. There are miniature shops, houses, cars, diplomas, food, gas tanks, bags of cement, and on and on! It's a big deal in Puno. Yesterday was a local holiday, so everyone could go and buy what they want for the year to come. We went this afternoon to look around, with a lot less people!
There are other handi-crafts and plenty of food to buy too. Throughout the fair are virgin idols set up with incense and candles burning and bouquets of flowers set up. It is easy to see the mixing of Catholicism with traditional ancient religious practices at festivals like these. There is also a fair amount of witchcraft, offering healing, good luck and future-telling.
Things to buy for good luck-
This sign says "We cure fears of children and adults using an egg", below the sign are statues of Ekeko.
Above are some booths- the left is a snack booth, with a variety of posters to buy, and the other is a booth full of miniatures and good luck charms.
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| Ella making her purchase. |
We spent about an hour walking up and down, looking at booths, eating churros and coconut cookies. We told the kids they could pick out something for 5 soles. This is what they found-
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| a little shopping cart full of miniature groceries |
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| little luchadores |
1 comment:
PREFECT doll toys.
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