Andean Marriage Cusco – Peru.

 

Andean marriage is an ancestral ritual of our Andean culture, which forms an unbreakable bond between the couple and the elements of nature so that those who choose to receive it grow more and more in love and trust.

Our Culture is more alive, ancestral customs are still preserved, and the Andean Marriage consists of union, connection, and complementarity, with the Pacha Mama, the couple puts all their intention of love of protection and covenant, invites and takes the blessing of the Pacha Mama.

The Andean marriage is a sequence of various ceremonies that precede the Christian religious marriage that begins with the processions made by the man during the main festivals of the town or in certain productive activities such as grazing, planting, or trade.

Sirvinacuy is a very ancient custom of the Andes area in Latin America. It is celebrated by the descendants of the Incas, who are now mostly peasants. It is a coexistence of the bride and groom prior to marriage, which can last from six months to a year. After this time, the groom has to talk to the bride’s parents and ask permission to marry her. If the parents agree, a wedding is held that consecrates the union between the bride and groom.

At the time of the Spanish conquest, the Catholic Church tried to eliminate this custom considered unchristian, but it was not very successful. The Indians continued to celebrate sirvinacuy to this day.

Currently, this custom is not celebrated as much as before. The descendants of the Incas live mostly in Peru.

To carry out this sacred ceremony, the Andean priest performs a continuation of rituals, it is required: A cleansing of the aura and purification, offering to the Pachamama, reading of coca leaves, taking ayahuasca, planting a plant, ceremony of the four elements (fire, air, water, and earth), exchange of gifts or suchi tiyray) This ancestral ritual is set with flowers and coca leaves.

That day, the groom wears a poncho and a richly decorated chullo, dress pants, and a small bag, where he carries coca to chacchar (chew).

The bride wears a traditional dress specially made for the ceremony. Its head looks adorned with hooks, a small skirt with embroidery, and a jacket. The garment of this dress is carried out by artisan embroiderers from the community.

The organization of the Andean marriage is in charge of both families and two relatives known as godfather and godfather. Each family has the obligation to prepare in their homes the ornaments, food, and drink that they will offer during the ceremony.

The food is very special, piglet and baked guinea pig are prepared. They also make snacks, which include corn tortillas, chuño, single beans and cochalluyo, potatoes, mote con puspo (bean), and other delicacies.

Music is very essential in the ceremony, placing joy and spirituality, the Group of musicians is composed of a Pututero, a Siku or zampoñas, a Quena, an Aucarina, a Pingullo, and an Antara, performing various cheerful, beautiful, and majestic sounds typical of the region.

Note. –

The ritual of the Pachamama begins on August 1, coinciding with the beginning of the agricultural year. It is a feast not only of veneration of the earth but also of cleansing and purification.

The symbolic ceremony of love for those couples who wish to renew their vows.

An account of an Andean marriage.

When the Spanish invaders occupied Cusco, the women and men “Quero”, fled to the highest mountains of the Andes to preserve their Inca culture.

They created the nation “Quero”, a community based on the ayllu (house-family), which is the communal energy of masculine feminine character in an almost perfect balance.

The feminine energy is called ignnassinti and the masculine yanantin. In this society, men and woman exercise their authority by mutual agreement. Both are complementary.

Lorenzo Quispe and Lucía Machacca are introverts, they live within themselves, with an eye on their hearts.

The two are shamans and sometimes do their rituals together. When Lorenzo met Lucia he told him munaquiki (I love you) and Lucia replied that they would live together… So they spent two years getting to know each other body and soul.

Then they married for the Andean ritual and Lucia gave him a blanket as if it were her heart and Lorenzo a sucker to shelter, in an exchange of deep love.

The quero culture is very old and the cultural residue of its writing is expressed through the family tapestries that women weave and that draw rituals, flames, flowers, condors, and pumas … Each family has its own drawings. Men weave alpaca wool caps and ropes. (Andina. pe).