C U L T U R A L - A C T I V I T Y
FESTIVITIES. FOLKLORE
The "round of popular feast" was already chronologically market by the calendar of saints' day, somehow following nature great cycles: the two solstices and the two equinoxes, the sowings and harvests and the traditional celebrations of Christmas, New Year, the Three Kings, Lent, Holy Week, Easter, Corpus Christi, the Virgin's Birth, Exaltation of the Cross and the honours to Saint Michael the Archangel, the city protector Patron Saint.
The Pachamama (Mother Earth)
In the Calchaquíes Valleys the eldest woman is chosen annually in carnival time.
It is the great goddess of the land of agriculturist peoples, which is linked to life and to the moon which, in the Inca times was the Empire popular goddess. The feast, which religiousness is purely pagan, is celebrated as National Feast in Amaicha del Valle.
Misa Chico
The Chayeras with their drumboxes and others with violin or guitar accompany the procession of Saints and Virgins in the valleys. Whilst in the valleys with torches and prayers, the song expresses faith with the murmurs of drumboxes, violins, quenas, bombo and guitars.
Fairs, feasts and festivals
In each fair, feast or festival remain the history traits, the landscape, customs or products of the zone, the typical dishes and handicrafts. At the beginning of the year, in January, the Fiesta del Quesillo (Little Cheese Feast) takes place in San Pedro de Colalao where in February and March the Fiesta de la Humita (Corn Cream Feast) and the Fiesta de la Nuez (Nut Feast), respectively are organized. In carnival times the Calchaquíes Valleys have the permanent echo of the joi-joi with a three notes melody which are repeated. In Tafí del Valle the Fiesta del Queso (Cheese Feast) is celebrated; in Amaicha del Valle, the pachamama; in Colalao del Valle, the Antigal Festival, where in July comes the Fiesta del Ponchi (local drink feast), takes place and in La Ciénaga the Yerbiao Feast. In Monteros, the tamal is exalted, a kind of maize flour pie wrapped up in corn husks, of real Inca origin. In this same city of romantics and poets, the Festival of the Folklore Strength takes place when Spring culminates. In the south, La Cocha organizes the Tobaco National Feast. Aguilares and Taféí Viejo relive the comparsas of different origin, and in this last town the Lemon National Festival takes place, which evokes the second mother industry of the province.
Simoca's Fair
Every Saturday of the year, long sulkies, carts, tractors, trucks and cars caravans go to Simoca, bringing people from different places who can to buy, sell, order works or simply to walk about. There they feel the morning with their laughing and voices, which are expressions of the dreams of all fairgoers in a land bordered by the green cane plantation. All this in a merry climate ande very special joy, which reaches itspeak at midday, in a middle of tempting grills, barbacues, sausages, tamales, empanadas (meat pies), locro, and many other typical meals, among them rosquete and empanadilla, which identified this people satisfying the most demanding tastes.
