Parranda de San Pedro: Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Every June 28 and 29, the Parranda de San Pedro is celebrated in the cities of Guatire and Guarenas in the state of Miranda, Venezuela, it is a popular and religious holiday.

It has its origin in colonial times and consists of parranderos, dressed in frock coats and pumpá (one of them bears the image of the saint, the other carries a yellow and red flag) and accompanied by four and maracas.

Percussion is achieved with pieces of animal leather tied around the feet like sandals (called quotes). They are also accompanied by two impubescent children, dressed in a red and yellow costume (similar to harlequins), who are known as “Tucusitos”.

The most striking character is a man dressed as a woman who carries a rag doll. This character is called “María Ignacia” and the doll is “Rosa Ignacia”. The two Tucusitos serve as their other two children. They all have their faces painted black with bitumen or what they call “smoke black”.

According to oral tradition, a slave named María Ignacia who lived somewhere in Guatire or Guarenas (in colonial times), seeing that her daughter Rosa Ignacia was not cured of a very high fever (“a fever”) asked Saint Peter to intercede for the healing of her little girl and if she did, she promised to go out dancing and singing to her every day on 29 June (saint's day of Saint Peter the Apostle).

The girl healed and the news of Maria Ignacia's promise spread throughout the area. The other slaves decided to accompany her in her singing and dancing through the dusty streets of Guatire (or Guarenas, depending on the nearest urban area where she was born).

La Parranda de San Pedro was proclaimed Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by Unesco on December 5, 2013.

Mazo News Team