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Patagonian New Year

New Year celebrations find families sharing their beliefs and strengthening their spirit when it comes to the community, the family, and the approach to other settlers in this region.

The Mapuche people are renowned for their in-depth understanding of astronomy and cosmology, which enabled them to comprehend the movements of the sun and stars, as well as their impact on nature and human life. They accurately captured the language of the earth, its cyclical development, and the beginning and end of each year.

In the Southern Hemisphere, the population recognizes June 21 as the shortest day of the year, along with the longest night and the arrival of winter. The solstice marks the greatest distance between the Sun and the Earth at that time, representing a change of cycle for many indigenous cultures.

For the Mapuches, it is the end of the harvest season and the beginning of planting, a constant cycle in which the sun moves the world. They believe that the sun is born in winter, becomes young in spring, matures in summer, and becomes old in autumn, coinciding with the falling of leaves from trees and the change of coat in animals. 

"We Xipantu""We Tripantu" means "New year""Rise of the New Sun" in the Mapudungun language, and its celebration coincides with the Inca ritual of Inti Raymi in the Andean villages. During the ceremony, thanks are given and prayers are offered for the new cycle that is beginning, honoring nature and the ancestors.

The solemnities begin on the night of June 23; families gather around the fire, eat their traditional dishes, such as muday, catutos, and sopaipillas, as well as other preparations, while listening to the elders of the community impart their wisdom. During the early hours of the 24th, they leave the fire to approach the cold waters of rivers, streams,springs. Before sunrise, they purify their bodies and spirits and pray for everyone. 

When the ceremony and prayers are over, they return to their homes while playing ancestral instruments and singing their songs. In some communities, games, baptisms, and customs inherited from their elders are carried out. The celebrations tend to strengthen their beliefs and the bond between families.

Today, We Tripantu is officially recognized in Chile as "National Indigenous Peoples' Day" and is also celebrated in Mapuche communities in Argentina. The date has been opened up to white people as an opportunity to share their philosophy of life, strengthen interculturality, and pass on pride in their cultural heritage to new generations.

See also: Hotels in Valdivia and other accommodation venues