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Patagonian New Year

New Year celebrations bring families together around their ancestral beliefs, strengthening community spirit, a sense of belonging, and bonds with others throughout the region.

The Mapuche people are distinguished by their profound knowledge of astronomical observation and natural cycles. From this wisdom, they developed a worldview based on the movements of the sun and celestial bodies, and on their direct influence over nature and human life. They learned to interpret with precision the language of the earth, its processes of transformation, and the beginning and end of each annual cycle.

In the Southern Hemisphere, June 21 is recognized as the shortest day of the year and the longest night, marking the arrival of winter. The solstice represents a key moment in the solar cycle, observed since ancient times as a point of renewal.

For the Mapuche people, this period symbolizes the close of the harvest season and the beginning of a new stage linked to sowing and the rebirth of life. The sun is understood as the driving force of the world: it is born in winter, strengthens in spring, reaches its fullness in summer, and grows old in autumn, in harmony with falling leaves and changes in animal behavior.

We Xipantu, meaning “New Year” or “the rising of the new sun” in the Mapudungun language, coincides in time with other ancestral rituals across the continent, such as Inti Raymi. It is expressed through ceremonies and prayers in which thanks are given, protection is requested, and inherited wisdom is honored.

The solemnities begin on the night of June 23, when families gather around the fire, share traditional dishes, and give the floor to the elders of the community. In the early hours of June 24, they leave the warmth of the fire to approach the cold waters of rivers, streams, or springs. Before sunrise, they perform acts of physical and spiritual purification and offer prayers for those they cherish.

When the ceremony and prayers conclude, they return home playing ancestral instruments and singing traditional songs. In some communities, games, naming rituals, and customs passed down through generations take place. These celebrations reinforce their beliefs and strengthen family bonds.

In recent years, this significant date in the Mapuche calendar has also opened to non-Mapuche participants, both from Chile and Argentina. The aim is to share their worldview, promote intercultural respect, and instill in new generations a sense of pride in their roots and ancestral legacy.

See also: Hotels in Pucón and other accommodation venues