The Mapuche indigenous community of Chile celebrates “We Tripantu” festival on the winter solstice
We Tripantu is traditionally celebrated during the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year in the southern hemisphere. This festival marks the beginning of winter’s retreat and the renewal of nature. According to Mapuche’s beliefs, on this sacred day, trees renew themselves, flowers bud, and new animals are born.
- 4 months ago
July 24, 2024
A carnival participant looks down from a tree at the crowd in the streets of "Los Copihues" in La Florida, Santiago, Chile. | Photo courtesy of Joshuan Gabriel Arguello Paredes
SANTIAGO, Chile — For more than 25 years, hundreds of people filled the streets of the Los Copihues settlement in the commune of La Florida from June 20 to 24 to celebrate We Tripantu. This celebration, also known as Wüñol Tripantu or Mapuche New Year, is one of the most significant annual events for the Mapuche people. The Mapuche are indigenous people in south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina.
We Tripantu is traditionally celebrated during the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year in the southern hemisphere. The festival marks the beginning of winter’s retreat and the renewal of nature. According to the beliefs of the Mapuche people, on this sacred day, trees renew themselves, flowers bud, and new animals are born. From this date onward, the hours of sunshine gradually lengthen until it reaches the summer solstice, the longest day of the year.
The celebration begins the day before the winter solstice, just as the sun is about to set.
Originally, We Tripantu remained solely a family celebration. Over the years, the tradition evolved, expanding to include more social aspects and larger communities.
According to Mapuche beliefs, humans remain deeply interconnected with nature, and this transformative energy impacts people and communities alike. Elements such as the sun, moon, rain, ocean, and wind must remain in balance to ensure our well-being and harmony.
We Tripantu stands as a celebration of the renewal of energies and life, marking the return of the sun and warmth, and the awakening of life that had been dormant.
We Tripantu holds significant symbolic value for the native peoples
Family members and the extended community gather together in traditional attire, with folk music playing throughout the night.
At dawn, people head to nearby rivers and streams to wash away any negativity they accumulated throughout the year. This cleansing ritual helps them rid themselves of disease, evil thoughts, and bad spirits.
Everyone in the community participates in the ceremony, which features songs, dances, a communal meal, and offerings to the land.
Children also participate in awar kuden, a traditional game played with broad beans, accompanied by a song for good luck. In this game, children compete to win and keep an item from the loser, often involving them offering up their toys.
