Takanakuy facts for kids

Takanakuy (which means "to hit each other" in the Quechua language) is a special yearly event. It takes place on December 25th in the Chumbivilcas Province of Peru, near Cuzco. During Takanakuy, people from the community come together to dance and sometimes to have friendly fights.

This tradition began in Santo Tomás, the main town of Chumbivilcas. Over time, it spread to other towns and cities, including Cuzco and Lima. Local people believe this tradition helps solve disagreements in a peaceful way. It gives people a chance to settle old conflicts and create a more harmonious community.

Customs of Takanakuy

During Takanakuy, people dress up in special costumes. There are five main types of characters. Their outfits are based on traditional horse-riding clothes and bright ski masks. These masks are unique to the region.

Special Costumes and Characters

The ski masks are all different. They have various colors, designs, and patterns. This helps make each costume unique.

Majenos: Horse Riders

Majenos wear the most basic costume. It looks like traditional horse-riding gear. This outfit is inspired by people from the Majes River area in the Andes. The costume includes wool horse-riding pants, a leather cap, and a traditional Peruvian jacket.

The special ski mask is called uyach'ullu. It has four colors: red, green, yellow, and white. These colors are thought to represent the four parts of the universe. The main reason for the mask is to hide the fighter's identity. This helps prevent any bad feelings from lasting into the new year.

Qaraqara: The Intimidating Fighter

The Qaraqara costume adds more to the Majeno outfit. It includes a leather biker jacket and long leather cowboy chaps. Fighters also wear a dead bird or a deer skull on their head. Many young people choose this costume. It looks very strong and intimidating.

Negro: The Rooster Dancer

The Negro costume looks like a slave master from old colonial times. It features knee-high leather boots and fancy pants. A nice shirt, waistcoat, and a silk cape are also part of the outfit. People wear a cardboard crown with shiny paper and a star. This character dances in circles like a rooster. The rooster is the spirit animal for this costume. In the past, only rich men wore this outfit. Now, it's often worn by the best fighters.

Langosta: The Locust Costume

The Peruvian word langosta means locust. This costume looks like a locust. It reminds people of a time in the 1940s when locusts destroyed many crops in Chumbivilcas. The outfit is a bright raincoat and pants. These mimic the shiny body of a locust. Sometimes, people wear a plastic miner's helmet or a dead bird around their neck.

Majeño: The Observer

This fighter does not wear a special Andean costume. However, they still join the procession. They do not take part in the ceremonial fighting.

The Fighting Tradition

The day of Takanakuy begins with a high-pitched singing procession. This parade goes through the streets. It is a family event, preparing children for the fights later. Children also dress up, often like their fathers.

Why People Fight

The main reason for fighting is to settle disagreements. These can be conflicts with friends, family, or over land. The fighting style is similar to martial arts. It involves kicking, punching, and quick movements.

Rules of the Fight

Fighters call out their opponent's full name. Then, they go to the center of a circle to start. Men must wrap their hands with cloth before fighting. There are strict rules: no biting, no hitting someone on the ground, and no pulling hair. An official decides the winner, either by knockout or by stopping the fight. These officials use whips to keep the crowd in order. At the start and end of each fight, opponents must shake hands or hug.

If someone loses and disagrees with the result, they can ask for another fight. This type of fighting also shows a person's courage in the community.

Music and Location

The music played during Takanakuy is called waylilla or wayliya. This music started in the 1960s. The songs are about challenging authority and freedom. The chorus repeats over and over during the procession. Local people believe dancing to waylilla can help them feel like a new person.

Where Takanakuy Happens

The main celebration takes place in the Peruvian Andes in Chumbivilcas. About 300 people live there, but around 3,000 gather for the celebration. Another event happens the day after Christmas in Llique, a village in Cuzco province. Here, the best fighters from different villages meet. They release any negative energy through fights. There are no police or government services in these communities during the event. Takanakuy has also spread to bigger cities like Cuzco and Lima.

When Takanakuy Takes Place

This traditional event always happens on December 25th. A local teacher from Santo Tomás explained the meaning of having such an intense event on a day usually seen as peaceful. He said it helps settle conflicts and acts as a way for people to release strong emotions.

Takanakuy Today

The government in Lima has tried to stop Takanakuy. However, the celebration has become popular in cities like Cuzco and Lima. Now, people who are not from the original indigenous communities also take part. This celebration has crossed different social groups. People from middle and upper-middle classes are now joining in.

There is a similar celebration in Bolivia called Tinku. It happens in May in the village of Potosí. Tinku is very much like Takanakuy. However, in Tinku, women rarely fight, and the men's fights are often larger group brawls.

See also

• Ch'iyar Jaqhi
• Tinku