Not This Time

Earlier this week, I was approached by Owen's pre-school teacher with instructions for purchasing his outfit for an upcoming celebration at the school. Having known in advance that this particular event was on its way, Pedro and I had already decided that Owen would not be involved. Though I felt a little awkward trying to explain why to his teacher, I simply said that we were glad to have him participate in other programs but were not comfortable with his participation in programs of a "religious" nature. She seemed somewhat surprised but said that we need to "respect each other's opinions" and accepted my answer.

Why all the fuss about a pre-school program? This particular holiday is one which we have heard of for quite some time but have yet to experience. It is referred to as "La Tirana" and is one of the most famous and celebrated events of the year here in the north. While the main festivities actually take place in a small village in the interior of the desert, throughout Iquique the schools and various groups perform programs of their own - each of which requires specific costumes, masks and religious dances in adoration of the Virgen del Carmen (the patron saint of fishermen and sailors.)

The legend of La Tirana goes something like this:

This religious celebration is based on a legend from 1535 when the Spanish conquistador conqueror Diego de Almagro departed from Cuzco to subdue Chile. The legend says that this group had two prisoners -- Huillac Huma, the last priest of the Inca Empire, and his beautiful daughter Ñusta Huillac who were among thousands of Inca natives who were prisoners of the invaders.

Ñusta was taken into the Atacama Desert where she later ran away from the Spaniards. Ñusta hid in the forest of Tamarugos, now known as "Pampa del Tamarugal".

For the next four years she defended her people and is said to have slaughtered hundreds of Spaniards. She became known as the "Tamarugal Tyrant".

One day Ñusta's men brought to her a prisoner of Portuguese descent named Vasco de Almeyda. Ñusta fell in love with this man, and for love she converted to Catholicism, a decision that her people did not forgive. Ñusta and Vasco tried to escape but they were killed on a field.

One hundred years later a monk, "Antonio", found in that same field where Ñusta had fallen to her death, a Virgin del Carmen image carved on a rock and a wooden cross. He built a sanctuary in that very place where now thousands of believers and tourists gather every year to celebrate La Tirana, a religious based carnival.

(from the Chilean Canadian Community Association of Calgary)

And one Chilean newspaper describes the festival this way:

Each July 16th, a small village located in one of the driest northern parts of our country zone disguises itself with color and religious fervor.

Heathen dances are combined with the devotion and, including, with the fanatism of thousands of devotees that arrive to the Titania’s village, located at 19 kmtrs, to adore the Virgen del Carmen of la Tirana of Tarapaca.

The festivity enhances a true rebirth of a village, that is almost completely uninhabited during the most part of the year. During a week (the festivities began near the 12 of July and end the 18th of the same month), diabladas, Chinese dances, huainos and morenadas overflow the streets of the city and the colorful disguises contrasts with the desert scenery.

The tragic legend of a couple of lovers composed by a Spaniard and a beautiful young Inca lady, known as La Tirana del Tamarugal, gave birth to this colorful festivity. A priest found a cross amid the plains, where the couple was buried, and, in this same place, built a temple that today hosts the image of the Virgen and that is visited by millions of pilgrims each year, coming from different zones of the territory, including from abroad.

During the festivities, different dancing groups show the visitors their choreographies, which come from the post Hispanic tradition and which object is to adore the Virgen. The dancers finally enter the temple accompanied by the sound of drums and trumpets.

While we love the colors and culture of many Chilean holidays, we cannot reconcile the elements of this holiday with what God has commanded in Scripture. In Exodus 20, the first two of the 10 Commandments tell us to worship God, and God alone:

20:3 "You shall have no other gods before me.

20:4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. ⁵ You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God ..."

Though we won't participate, it will be interesting to watch the festivities someday. It won't be this year, though. In researching this entry I learned that the H1N1 fllu virus has led to the cancellation of the festival.

Somehow I can't feel too sorry.