While in this hemisphere the winter season is installed, in the other pole the temperatures rise to welcome summer. Precisely, in Spain the fire festival is celebrated on the day of San Juan to commemorate the solstice of the summer season.
This ritual was replicated in our country by the Spanish colonizers, historian Margarita Miró recalled. However, over time it acquired Guarani nuances and the cult of fire quickly became traditional games such as tata ári jehasa or tata ball.
“This cult of fire is what we do with the tata ári jehasa and the kandil bull. This practice occurs with greater or lesser intensity in all cultures and has to do with the change of season. Thus, the festival of San Juan was ‘Paraguayized’ with Spanish customs. Several aspects of our culture are mestizo or hybrid”, he highlighted.
RELIGIOUS AND PAGAN
The anthropology specialist recalled that all these rituals have a pagan origin. The Catholic Church, over time, made these traditions coincide with the birth or death of a saint in order to add religiosity to the popular manifestation.
“In this case it was San Juan. For this reason, we have the Catholic rites and, on the other hand, the popular manifestation that, in the end, is what gives it strength to maintain the tradition”, he recounted.
MANDIOC AND CORN
From the delicious pajagua mascada to the mandi’o cake, most of the traditional foods of the San Juan festival are made with a base of cassava or corn. In this way, the Guaraní touch that our ancestor added to the popular commemoration is observed.
“In Europe there was no cassava or corn. Our typical food is based on corn and cassava products. Meat derivatives such as braided chicharõ and sausage were incorporated by the Europeans”, she referred.
GAMES
Fun and even risky games like yvyra sýi or tata ári jehasa are some of the challenges that San Juan presents to you. In order to overcome them, a little faith and technique are required, affirmed Margarita Miró.
“For example, with the tata ball or the tata ári jehasa, one has to have faith so as not to get burned. They also have their technique. In this kind of practices, the cult of fire that the Spanish brought and that is observed with greater or lesser intensity in all cultures becomes more than evident”, he emphasized.
JUDAS KAI
When speaking of Judas, it is necessary to refer to the traitor of the Last Supper. However, popular tradition changed Judas for some character or politician, who deserves ridicule or criticism for his management.
Burning evolved over time. In colonial times the fire was probably lit with grease, later with kerosene or fuel.
“There is the judas kai that has nothing to do with San Juan. Now, the politician who is not loved for his actions is the one who is burned in the square. These are changing, they are registering and adapting to the times. Culture is also something dynamic that adapts,” he stressed.
MATCHMAKER
Although he does not have a reputation as a matchmaker, popular tradition gave Saint John the power to guess the name of the future couple, based on various tests and tricks.
For example, during noon on June 24, the drops of a candle must be scattered in a container to know the initial of the future husband of a young woman.
Likewise, on the night of June 23, you can stick a knife into a banana plant until it is fully inside and you have to leave it there until noon on the 24th.
Finally remove the knife and interpret the letter that will remain on the knife, that would be the initial of your future husband or wife.
There was no shortage of people at midnight on June 24 who stood at the window to observe, according to tradition, their future partner.
EVOLVE AND PERSIST
Margarita Miró analyzed that, despite the ravages of time, the traditional Fiesta de San Juan persists because it was adopted as an element of identity for Paraguayans.
“In addition to the social appropriation of identity elements, a lot happens through the power of sharing, of reunion. These demonstrations make a community feel alive. Let us value these commemorations so that they are perpetuated over time”, she concluded.
