Colombia News.
During the day, Saint Francis of Assisi is worshipped, but at night, that same saint becomes Saint Pacho. In Chocó, they know how to differentiate between them and if you attend the festival, you must also participate in the Eucharist.
The San Pacho festivities take place in the capital of the department of Chocó, Quibdó. Seen from a narrow perspective, it is nothing more than a festival where they worship their patron saint, San Francisco de Asís, nicknamed by them as ‘San Pacho’.
However, seen from a broader perspective, this festival is the celebration of a community with African heritage that ends up converting its traditions and those imparted during times of colonization into its own philosophy of life.
And it is that after the times of slavery that preceded the department, the Franciscan fathers were the ones who brought new knowledge to educate the first generations of Chocó. Of course, they brought European knowledge, including music.
The Chirimía, fundamental in its realization
The first historical records indicate that the Chocó people were already singing laments and playing their own instruments such as drums, but when Spanish troops arrived, wind instruments such as the clarinet, tuba, cymbals and snare drums were introduced, and thus the Chirimía was born.
And the Chirimía is for the San Pacho Festivities what the cumbia could well be for the Barranquilla Carnival.
In this sense, twelve Franciscan neighborhoods are in charge of receiving the baton of command between chirimía and joy to be able to develop this festivity in their territories. From September 20 to October 5, these neighborhoods are in charge of keeping the ‘bunde’ at its best, which is the name given to the dances that go through the streets of Quibdó.
The San Pacho Festival is recognized as the largest solemnity in the department of Chocó since it was given the status of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2012, entering the list of the most important fairs and festivals in Colombia.
@carlosillid23 San Pacho is coming #SanPacho #bunde #Colombia #fyp #for you #petronioalvarez ♬ original sound – Carlos illid
Since then, they have received resources from the Franciscan neighborhoods to organize the festivities.
Important dates
Although in September there is a general alborada event, before that, they hold some ‘alboraditas’ that focus on the twelve Franciscan neighborhoods, there is a neighborhood tour that ends in celebration; its objective is to announce that the Fiesta de San Pacho is about to arrive.
Normally these ‘alboraditas’ take place at the end of August.
Then, on September 3, the general alborada takes place, the purpose of which is to mark the beginning of the patron saint festivities.
On October 3, amidst fireworks and costumes, they make rafts that go down the ostentatious Atrato River.
On October 4th, the death of Saint Francis of Assisi, the canonized saint, is commemorated. On that day, the events are purely religious.
On September 5, the flag-bearing neighborhoods gather to wave flags and, to the rhythm of the chirimía, say goodbye to San Pacho and await his return next year.
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