But, after experiencing Peru's version of a celebration that we previous colonists can appreciate, I find that there aren't too many differences between Laraos being proud to be Peruvian and free from Spain and us being proud to be Americans and free from England. So here we go.
1. Who are we celebrating our Independence from? USA out from under England, Peru is out from under Spanish rule.
2. How long have we been free? Peru: since 1824. USA: since 1776.
3. How long do we celebrate? USA: 1-2 days. Peru: 5-10 days.
3. How do we celebrate? Peru: Food, parade, fireworks. USA: See "Peru"
And that is awesome, right? OK, so the food part is a little different. Peru chooses to have a contest showcasing the typical plates of each region of their country and we choose to have a cook-out in our backyards. The parade? Well our parade routes tend to be miles long and with at least 50 different groups marching. Here, the parade was approximately 100 yards with about 8 groups marching. When we parade, we walk and throw candy. A parade in Peru is a march. A near goose-stepping, downright military march. Maybe that's why they don't parade for miles. That and because any further and you'd be in the fields with the donkeys.
And the fireworks. In the USA, big works, sometimes set to music and blown up a substantial distance away from the spectators. In Peru, I'm sure you can guess. There are a few big ones but the majority are more like firecrackers and they are lit maybe 10 feet from the on-lookers. I think this adds to the excitement and only slightly unnerving.
Let me throw another interesting thought your way regarding independence and revolutions. There is another gringo in town at the moment. He is a college student from France who is doing a study on the quinual (endemic tree species to the Andes) forest. As we were talking about the 4th versus the 28th of July, he reminded us that for him it is the 14th of July, Bastille Day. 4th, 14th, 28th ... of July. All of them. So what is it about July that makes the repressed peoples get up and go revolt? Is it the hot weather that gets their blood boiling at their injustice? Or is the weather just more pleasant that people are outside and discussing how their lives could and should be? Or, are there just no holiday celebrations to get in the way of their revolution's progress? Either, way, I don't think that a leader need worry about a state-upsetting coup mid-December.
Blessings.
I think a numerologist would sure have fun with those dates - 4, 14, 28!
ReplyDeleteOk, we have them beat on parades, right? And also fireworks? And - we really like our backyard cookouts! Being able to keep up the partying for days and days though - we concede that one to Peru.
Are you now practicing speaking Spanish with a French accent?
Love you,
Mom
It's easier to incite anger & violence in the heat. Or at least I remember something from a long-ago psych class about crime rates being higher in the summer. But I'm too tired to look it up for you now. Captaining takes lots of energy.
ReplyDeleteLove you, lady!
I briefly read your comments and find them very offensive. I have visited the US few times but could not generalize the mentality and costumes and culture in Texas with the ones in San Francisco or in Kansas. Peru has three very different regions and the culture and costumes vary depending you are. La Sierra, besides being a beautiful land, still conserves traditional dances, language, food, attire, religion, folklore, beliefs etc, etc that the colonist were unable to take from us. Yes, we celebrate for days, but not for the independence because we are still subjected to colonial practices similar to the US, right? I read about how Mexicans and other minorities are treated even though the US suppose to be GAGALAND or Disneyland? We celebrate with food, dance and different ceremonies near the burros and llamas while you celebrate with FIRE crackers and marching militants.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, a French national will never be called a gringo in Peru, el adjetivo es solo para los "estaunidendes." Oh, the United States, unlike any other country in the world, does not have a nationality to describe their nationality. America is a continent and not a country. The colonial and imperial mentality is still ingrain in the mind of many estaunidenses. Interesting how linguistics works, all other languages have a word to describe the US nationality... funny.
Laura, enlarge your vision. When many US citizen arrive into other countries to HELP the poor natives, they have a sense of superiority that is very obvious in the way they describe the dealings. It is offensive the way you describe some of our costumes, Laurita.