February 2 - Theft of Child or Paradura

On February 2, several celebrations that mark the end of Christmas celebrations converge in Venezuela. Therefore, in the places with the greatest tradition of Christmas these activities or celebrations are developed with greater emphasis. In the Gaita, which is currently the most popular Christmas music, is what is called the "lifting of furros" (one of the instruments used in this rhythm), to indicate that the instruments will be packed away until the new season.

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That day is a tradition in almost all the country, remove Christmas ornaments, cribs, trees and any element associated with these celebrations, whether religious or not. And I clarify this, because although the origin of the festival is religious in allusion to the birth of the Child Jesus, this tradition has settled in a way that even atheists and other religions have their celebrations for these dates.

Of course, in those cases they are not governed by all the guidelines that govern the ritual, such as the one related to February 2.

That day, for the Christian calendar, the Day of Virgin of Candelaria is celebrated and in many parts of the country it is done that way. This day corresponds to what Christians call the Purification of the Virgin, which refers to a period after childbirth, to a quarantine. This tradition, which comes from the Canary Islands, settled heavily in several regions of the country, in which ways of honoring that virgin, including among indigenous populations, were developed. Significant traditions of cultural importance.

But on the other hand, February 2 also corresponds to the moment when, according to that same religion, it was the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple.

By having these two sources of inspiration, that date acquired a strong presence in the religious celebrations of the country and generated some interesting traditions, such as the title of this publication: The Child "Paradura" (this word is related to standing up) or Child Theft.

Inspired by the fact that Jesus was presented that day, the people assumed that the child could stand up from the cradle, hence the name of "Paradura". That is why the child is paraded through different houses in said celebration. At the party there are godfathers (sponsors) who are responsible for carrying the child in a small sheet, as a hammock. The sponsors go from house to house, in which, as happens in the Parrandas , they sing and improvise verses, while the hosts give them drinks and meals. The priest of the parish usually takes the opportunity to bless each house in which they are received.

But this party, whose major presence, and possibly its origin, is in the Venezuelan Andes, has a variant. On January 1, "someone" steals the child from the manger of the parish and keeps it at home. On February 2, the neighbors go out to search house by house. The owners of that house that has the child are in charge of preparing meals and drinks for the people who go out to search. In other words, they are the hosts of the party. After eating and drinking in that house, they go through the streets and other houses, singing Christmas carols until they reach the Church or the place where the manger of the parish is located.

Within the ritual prayers are prayed, candles are lit (which refer to the feast of candles or the Virgin of La Candelaria), eat, drink and sing. In fact, a central song is the one that guides the ceremony, indicating to the godparents at what moment each of the actions should be done.

This date was formerly used to bless corn, among the indigenous population that had been converted to Christianity. Which is why this is associated with giving food at this party.

The meals that usually accompany this event are the same as Christmas, where they predominate, the hallacas or buns and the chicken salad. The drinks, at least in the Andes and those who follow the Andean tradition, are prepared with a brandy from that region called miche, as well as the famous Andean chicha.

Given the enormous popularity of these parties in the Andes region, there are many people from that area who have been popularizing them in other regions. That's how on February 2, my family was invited to a Paradura in the same area where I live. This time it was held in a building, so instead of going from house to house, we went to several apartments...

Although I was like a simple guest, when the musician who had been invited to play there, José Romero, saw me he told: "You will not stay without playing anything, at least the drum you are going to grab!". And so it was, I ended up integrated into the musical part of the celebration.

There we witnessed and participated in a centennial tradition in our lands and for many an act of devotion.

Here I leave a video that shows the musical environment that we had that night, without rehearsal and with the participation of all the attendees, as always happens.

Below I also leave one of the most popular Christmas songs dedicated to the Virgin of La Candelaria, which refers to February 2, so it is played usually in these celebrations. This version is professionally recorded by one of the most important groups that play music of the coast and the Christmas, Un Solo Pueblo.