La Sangria: A secret tradition celebrated in Cañar, Ecuador
Cañar is the archaeological capital of Ecuador. Indigenous Inca and Cañaris communities inhabit most of the area. It remains one of the few cities left where people still wear traditional attire as everyday wear and preserve ancient traditions and dances.
- 2 years ago
February 24, 2023
CAÑAR, Ecuador — When you hear the word Sangria, you typically think of the traditional wine by the name. However, the Cañaris, an indigenous population in Ecuador, hold a different meaning for the word. Every year, they host a celebration called Sangria which they keep secret within their communities.
I stumbled upon the celebration by pure luck through my work. While working as a photographer for a political candidate in Cañar, I heard people discussing the festivities. Upon discovering they kept the event secret for many years, I felt intrigued. The event lives on only through photographs and word of mouth, and they allowed me to attend.
Read more stories from Indigenous communities at Orato World News
A celebration born from blood
Sangria, Spanish for “bleeding,” gets its name from a long-ago custom that entails cutting a bull’s ear and letting it bleed. The blood serves to purify mother earth (La Pachamama), bless the annual harvest, and offer protection to the residents. This explains why the celebration takes place at the beginning of the new year.
Throughout time, the people abandoned the custom of using genuine animal blood in favor of a day in which food, drinks, and sweets get distributed to the town’s children. The grownups get together to drink, dance, and enjoy live music and celebrations.
This celebration also honors the Virgin of the Cloud, and begins with a town band driving through the community in vans, blasting music, and announcing the start of the celebration. Afterwards, men on horses, called Chagras, demonstrate their skills by dancing around the square and gathering a crowd. Bulls still participate in the event, but only for bullfighting. Decorations and beautiful garments color the whole area.
Cañar is the archaeological capital of Ecuador. Indigenous Inca and Cañaris communities inhabit most of the area. It remains one of the few cities left where people still wear traditional attire as everyday wear and preserve ancient traditions and dances.
