The “ensebao stick”, 175 years of Zulia tradition that is strengthened with each generation

December 25 are popular festival days in El Calvario de Los Puertos de Altagracia, in Zulia, where a family descendants of a buccaneer captain continues to lead a popular game that has become a tradition, the “stick ensebao”

Since 1847, in the Domitila Flores “El Calvario” square in Los Puertos de Altagracia, Zulia state, the traditional game of “palo ensebao” has been celebrated with joy, where several contestants in teams, young residents of the municipality, demonstrate their skills, skills and intelligence, while the Mirandino people observe and have great joy in anticipation of the winning team.

The El Calvario sector began to climb the “ensebao stick” at the end of the first half of the 19th century when the ancient settlers took the mast of the buccaneer ships sunk in the naval battle of Lake Maracaibo, sprayed them with coconut oil and After planting it in the ground, they tried to climb up to the top.

On December 25, 1847, during the patron saint festivities in honor of the Virgin of Altagracia, it was the first time that Samuel Sthormes and other relatives, direct descendants of the buccaneer captain Peter Sthormes, installed a mast in the neighborhood of El Calvario, becoming since then in the oldest popular tradition of the Zulia region.

Since then, the activity has continued over time. It has been projected as one of the most anticipated events of the year, because people from other areas, states and even countries have come to see this game that has been sponsored by a purely Calvariera and Altagracian family.

The Sthormes Leal family has been in charge of organizing the “ensebao stick” of El Calvario, together with the inclusion of its entertaining “jocular games”.

When Samuel Sthormes died, his son Yldemaro “Manuelito” Sthormes continued the tradition, assuming the organization and recreation of the event. Then it was the turn of his heir, Jorge Sthormes. “Since I was 12 years old I was preparing to continue with my father’s tradition, now I have 74 years of life and 62 making the ensebao stick,” he told SuchWhich.

Jorge Sthormes, son of “Manuelito Sthormes” and Lucila Leal, explained that to achieve the goal of reaching the top you only need to want to try it, since it is a relatively easy sport for anyone who wants to practice it. Age, height and weight are not impediments at the time of dabbling in this activity.

“The stick taught It is almost seven meters high, it has almost a meter and a half difference in height from an electric pole. In other times a wooden tube was used, adds Sthormes.

The ascent of the “ensebao stick” consists of making ascents on a greasy tube, being impossible to achieve it only with the upper extremities (arms and hands) and therefore requires the use of the lower extremities (legs and feet). Two to three people participate for each team to achieve their mission and minimize the risk of suffering an accident.

To climb you need to have strength and a lot of resistance, and teamwork: one of the competitors must serve as a support base for the rest. The wardrobe must be lycra-type shorts. Competitors must pass over each other, in a dynamic that resembles a ladder. To win, one of the competitors reaches the finish line and takes the flag.

Year after year other traditional and humorous games have been held before the start of the competition to reach the flag at the top of the pole. Formerly there were donkey races, ribbon competitions, the egg in the spoon, the middle in the flour and the bite in the apple. Currently, the games of the egg in the air, strength and resistance, and sack races, among others, are maintained.

Painting by Rafael Rodríguez Franco, in the Sthormes family home

The celebration of “el palo ensebao” of El Calvario, there next to the Domitila Flores square adjacent to the Las Tres Cruces square, is the occasion that brings together the inhabitants of the place every December 25 to celebrate Christmas. Some people have insisted that the physical space has become too small and they propose to change it to another location. But Jorge Sthormes says he has consulted the residents of El Calvario, who prefer to maintain the tradition of the date and place.

Every December, the “ensebao stick” is the perfect excuse to reunite with family, friends and neighbors in Zulia. It is a tradition that brings together more than five thousand people in one place and, together with musical groups of bagpipes and other dance music, make it the most anticipated event of the year, an activity that is cultural heritage of the Miranda municipality.

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