Hello, beautiful people of my heart!
Yeah, it's me again. I was fast, wasn't I?
The truth is, guys, these posts have me very excited; Lara state is rich in cultural expressions and patrimonies -natural and cultural-, so editing the pictures, dusting off the notes that I took, remembering moments and writing all that is really stimulating. It's even better knowing that you liked this section of my blog, so I'll continue with Sanare's tour. Previously I told you about The sinking of Yai, we are now moving towards another place that is new and totally unknown to many of you.
Continuing with the tour of the Latin American Congress of Archaeology and Anthropology, we arrived at the Community Museum "Aroa Chunai " -do you remember when I said in the previous post that I started at the end? Well, this was the second stop in Sanare, the first stop is for the next post. As you can see, I go from the last stop to the first- located in the community of Palo Verde, in Sanare.
Here my capacity to pay attention was reduced a little due to the number of people who were there, with the little space available. Although I have to add the delay that I had when I arrived from the first stop of the tour, which was two blocks before, so I came walking. For that reason I only paid attention to half of the talk. However, due to the horrible warm weather, I decided wait until the talk was over and we were allowed to walk freely through the small, but symbolic, museum where I was.
Over here I leave you one of my favorite pictures.
Let's get to know the «Aroa Chunai» Community Museum!
Over here, we have some wonderful and beautiful masks from the local festivity «El Baile de las Zaragozas». Now you are going to tell me "How It's going withi this festivity?", I will explain you: It is a dance that they do every December 28th to celebrate the well-known "Holy Innocents's Day" where everyone dances hiding the identity of each participant in it. The masks are used to realize this commitment.
The belief tells us that the Baile de las Zaragozas is very old, such that Venezuelan historians still do not know exactly when it happened. Its origin is an agricultural tradition that was evangelized and became a devotion to the Holy Innocents -which, according to the biblical reference, were all the children murdered by King Herod- in which it is usual to request promises hiding the identity of each one and dancing, hoping that these promises will be realized.
This was a short introduction talk to this traditional Larense dance.
Then they explain to us that there are schools where children are trained to take the place of the old Zaragozas; the first school was built in 1955 and still today it is helping and teaching about the importance of culture in the new dancers' recruits. I did not miss the opportunity to take a picture of these amazing masks.
They continue to explain to us about the folklore of Sanare and some local traditions that are not so recognized. Following this scenario, we were informed about the Baile de Tamunangue; It is performed every June 13 in veneration to San Antonio de Padua. In what this dance consist? Unique in Venezuelan dances. It is conformed by: La Batalla, La Bella, Yeyevamos o Chichivamos, Juruminga, El Poco a Poco, Perrendenga, Galerón y Seis Figureao.
You don't know what I want to enjoy in person from such wonderful festivities. The explanations were very beautiful; the soul and affection that the guide of the museum placed in them make understand the importance for the community of these beautiful dances, so I really wish to return and witness them!
These beautiful wooden sticks are part of the costumes for the Dance of Tamunangue.
Loving and iconic character: José Alberto Castillo «El Caimán de Sanare» (Sanare's Caiman)
They took us to a corner dedicated to a wonderful storyteller in the Sanare community: José Alberto Castillo. They explained everything about him. He was born on the 3rd of January in 1937. He was a merchant, a farmer, he made brooms. When he started telling stories, legends and imaginary tales created by him, he began to have a huge fame among the young people, who listened to all his incredible stories in admiration. Consequently, he won a number of awards for all the writings that he wrote.
The winner of important awards such as: Iberoamerican Prize "Shaman" of communication, given in 1989; and the Medal to the Merit in the Orality given in 2010. "El Caimán de Sanare" was a teacher for all the village, a very dear and recognized lover of the different, the fantastic; a creator of numerous stories that, even today, are still heard by people who love everything that came from him. He died at the age of 73, on September 27, 2010.
To finish the talk about José, the guide took out a book called "Sin decí una garra e' mentira " where the writings of this very dear character were collected. He also read us a magnificent fragment, which then I took the liberty of searching to share with all of you:
When I say goodbye to this world:
After the death one returns to be born in another birth, in spirit. When I say goodbye to this world, I implore you to take me away with music, stories and joy. Happiness is mine. The story is my life; let the groups come to me, the groups with whom I have collaborated. That they send me away with the music of the folklore of here, kind of music, I do not have distinction. The only music I don't like is the english music, because I don't understand it, it's like crickets; american music, yes, because you understand it.
This translation can lose some of the original meaning.
On September 29, 2010, several cultural activities were celebrated in all the public spaces of Sanare in tribute to José Alberto Castillo "El Caimán de Sanare".
Unfortunately, at this point I did not pay attention to the talk. The warm weather was suffocating me; I needed fresh air. I left the museum and waited for it to finish the whole tour, so I came in after they allowed a space of time to look freely.
Enjoy the pictures that I have brought you!
I found these pieces of craftsmanship and these wonderful guitars.
I was stunned observing even the smallest corner of the museum. Each tiny part told a different story about the cultural heritage of the Palo Verde community. It is very heartwarming to know that there are still people interested in the care of historical fragments from communities in the country; people who fight every day to preserve cultural memory as valuable works for all.
I kept knowing every little fragment of this magical place.
Here I can tell you that in the image on the right we have some samples of the recognized local pottery teacher Teodora Torrealba, who lived in the neighbouring village Yay. I heard more about her when we went through the Hundition. She lived 107 years, never married or had children -I love you, Theodora-. She only taught women of the community and her nieces, she never taught any men. The villagers have a monument in her honour at the beginning of the village; a symbol of love and admiration of all the villagers for her. She died in March, 2000.
Over here I brought you the last pictures that I took at the museum.
And this picture so you can see how full the museum was and understand why I decided to leave the talk and wait for the end.
Sincerely —and in case you haven't noticed yet— I love museums; for me a museum has the best of its region. Representations, imaginaries, art, thoughts, creativity, emotion, feelings and stories. A museum is a corner of magic, where the best minds of humanity walk. The Community Museum "Aroa Chunai " is full of this and more, because it is a museum made by the people and for the people. The pieces exposed there -which by the way, are for sale- were created by the people of the community with years of effort. The love and affection that they show in the talk and in the place can be touched just by looking into the eyes of the guide.
Sanare, as I told you before, is a town full of magic and feelings that everyone should visit. I really hope to go again -carry cash if you want to buy any piece, which I can guarantee you, you'll want to take them all- and visit one or another place that I couldn't at the time. The people are friendly, warm and homey. I promise you that no one there will have a problem offering you a mango, a banana, a tea or a conversation about the place. Sanare is love.
Thank you everyone for reading this new section. I hope you like it, I would love to see your comments at the end of the post and any questions or suggestions you have. Thanks for the support, guys, I love you.
And a very special thanks to you; for supporting me and existing.
If you want to read more about my pilgrimages, you can visit these posts
Pilgrimage with sophie: A room full of magic
Pilgrimage with Sophie: Yai's sinking
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