Editorial | Culture | Tradition
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It’s Christmas time in Santo Tomas, a small village in Peru’s High Andes.
Like every year, the communities of the province of Chumbivilca gather to celebrate “Takanakuy”.
“Takanakuy”. In Quechua, the word means litterally "punching one another"; I also heard overthere the interpretation: “when the blood is boiling”. It is a ritual fight which some say was born during the colonial times, when the cruel and feared land owners - “los haciendados” - ruled.
What first looks like an uncontrolled outburst of violence is in fact extremely codified. Takanakuy’s primary function is to be a catharsis for the community: an intense moment where the problems which arose during the year get physically overcome and solved in front of all.
A wife was disrespectfully looked at? A strip of land is fought over between neighbors? No need for lawyers here: Takanakuy will restore the fighters’ honor and help them resolve their conflict in a fair way.
