Bolivia's Solstice Celebrations: Ancient Traditions, Unique Culture

Bolivia celebrates the winter solstice on 21 June, which marks the Aymara New Year. The date was declared a national holiday in 2010 and is also known as Willkakuti ('return of the sun'). The solstice is celebrated in Tiwanaku town, which was once the sacred and political centre of the ancient Tiahuanaco culture. The date is considered the beginning of the new agricultural year and the end of the harvest season. The Amautas (Andean priests) perform gratitude ceremonies to the Sun and the Pachamama (Mother Earth) for the crops received. The rituals include chants, offerings, and sacrifices to the Sun and the Pachamama. The celebrations also take place at the Cochabamba archeological ruins and in Santa Cruz at the Samaipata fort.

The Aymara New Year

The main venue for the solstice ceremony is the ancient town of Tiwanaku, which was once a sacred and political centre for the Aymara people. The ruins of the Tiwanakan temple attract thousands of Bolivians and tourists who gather to witness the sunrise on the solstice. The first sunlight illuminates the Ponce Monolith through the Kalasasaya Puerta del Sol (Doorway of the Sun).

Following the sunrise, offerings of food and sacrifices are made to Inti (the sun god) and Pachamama (Mother Earth) to bring prosperity, fertility, and reproduction of life. The rituals include chants, dances, and prayers, with people raising their palms towards the sky. The celebrations continue throughout the day with feasting, drinking, and festivities.

The winter solstice marks the end of the harvest season

The winter solstice is a significant event for the Andean people of Bolivia, marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of a new agricultural cycle. This date holds immense agricultural and cultural significance, with the Earth reaching its furthest distance from the sun.

The winter solstice is celebrated as the Aymara New Year, coinciding with the longest night of the year on June 21st in the Southern Hemisphere. The Aymara people, comprising around 25% of Bolivia's population, have a long history and rich cultural traditions. The Aymara New Year is an ancient agricultural ritual, deeply rooted in their connection to the land and their spiritual beliefs.

The largest celebrations take place in Tiwanaku, a town of great cultural and spiritual significance, located near Lake Titicaca. The festivities begin before dawn, with people gathering to witness the first rays of the sun passing through the Puerta del Sol (Gate of the Sun). The sun's rays illuminate the Ponce Monolith, and this marks the start of a ceremony where offerings are made to Inti (the sun god) and Pachamama (Mother Earth). The offerings include food and sacrifices, such as llamas, to express gratitude and seek blessings for prosperity and fertility in the coming agricultural cycle.

The rituals are led by amautas (Andean priests) and include chants, dances, prayers, and bonfires. People make offerings to the gods, such as small replicas of houses, animals, and other objects representing their wishes for the New Year. The ceremonies are not limited to Tiwanaku, as people also gather at the Kalasasaya Temple and the Sun Gate, part of the Tiwanaku archaeological site, to welcome the new Andean year.

The winter solstice holds a special place in the hearts of Bolivians, and it was officially recognized as a national holiday in 2010. This declaration, made by President Evo Morales, himself an Aymara, carries symbolic importance in acknowledging and preserving the cultural heritage of the Aymara people. The solstice celebrations showcase the pride and resilience of the different Andean cultures in Bolivia, integrating ancient traditions with modern festivities.

The Sun Festival, Inti Raymi

Inti Raymi was created by Inca Pachacutec, also known as 'the world transformer', in the 14th century as a religious reform. It was the greatest and most important festival during the Tawantinsuyo Empire, and the largest festival held in the capital, Cusco.

The festival is celebrated over several days, with colourful dances and processions, as well as animal sacrifices to thank Pachamama and to ensure a good harvest. The central ceremony takes place in the Esplanade of Sacsayhuaman, where the Qoya, or companion of the Inca, plays a highly relevant role, accompanying the Inca throughout the ceremony and demonstrating sovereignty and power. The ceremony also includes the Rite of the Sacred Fire Inka, the Rite of the Sankhu (holy bread), and the Q'ochurikuy (popular worship).

The first Inti Raymi was held in 1412, and the last one in the presence of the Inca Emperor took place in 1535, a year before the Spanish Conquest. After this, the Spanish colonists banned the ceremony. However, in 1944, a historical reconstruction of the Inti Raymi was directed by Faustino Espinoza Navarro and indigenous actors, based on the chronicles of Garcilaso de la Vega. Since then, an annual theatrical representation of the festival has been taking place, attracting thousands of local and international visitors to Cusco.

The Gate of the Sun

The site holds cultural significance as an important symbol of Tiwanaku culture and heritage, and their influence on Inca mythology and iconography. The Gate of the Sun is also a key venue for marking the winter solstice, with thousands of Bolivians and tourists gathering to witness the early morning sunrise on 21 June. The winter solstice marks the Aymara New Year, which has been a public holiday in Bolivia since 2010.

The summer solstice and Christmas celebrations

Bolivia is a country with a diverse population that follows a mix of Catholic and indigenous beliefs. This mix of beliefs is reflected in the country's holiday festivities.

The Winter Solstice

The winter solstice in Bolivia marks the Aymara New Year, which falls on June 21st. This date was declared a national holiday in 2010. The Aymara people, who live in the highlands, make up around 25% of the country's population. The winter solstice is a significant date in the Aymara calendar as it marks the end of the harvest and the beginning of the new agricultural year. On the night of June 20th, the Aymara people gather together to bid farewell to the old year. This gathering includes wise men (yatiris) and Andean priests (amautas), who perform rituals and ceremonies to honour the Sun and Pachamama (Mother Earth). The main venue for marking the solstice is Tiwanaku, an ancient sacred city located about an hour from La Paz, towards Lake Titicaca. The ruins of a Tiwanakan temple are the site of ceremonies and rituals that attract large numbers of tourists and worshippers during the winter solstice. The winter solstice is also celebrated at the Cochabamba archaeological ruins and the Samaipata fort in Santa Cruz.

Christmas in Bolivia

Christmas in Bolivia incorporates elements from both Catholic and indigenous traditions. As it coincides with the Summer Solstice, it is a time when indigenous Bolivians celebrate the harvest. They thank Pachamama for her abundance and ask for prosperity in the coming year. The main Christmas decoration in Bolivia is the pesebre, or nativity scene, which can be highly elaborate. In recent years, more Bolivian homes, especially in metropolitan areas, have also started incorporating Christmas trees and lights. In the Andean regions, families typically stay home and enjoy hot chocolate and a simple nativity scene. The Aymara people have a unique tradition where they make pairs of clay animal figures, bury them in the earth, and offer beer to Pachamama. This tradition symbolizes farmers' wishes for more animals in the coming year. On Christmas Eve, many families attend the midnight mass, or Misa de Gallo, and bring small gifts such as a figurine of the Niño Manuelito (Baby Jesus) and an item representing their trade or profession. After the mass, it is customary to enjoy a hearty Christmas picana, a festive soup made with various kinds of meat and vegetables. On Christmas morning, Bolivians often indulge in hot chocolate and buñuelos, deep-fried dough balls flavoured with cinnamon and sugar.

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