We Value Our Cultural Wealth
With lots of joy, enthusiasm, and friendship, children from SOS Children Village Sucre participated in the magnificent Carnival Children's Parade organized by the City Hall of Sucre. The children were broadly applauded at the parade, mainly for their effort to preserve the cultural and historical dimensions of the dance.
Organizing the event
On 18 February, children aged five to twelve from SOS Children's Village Sucre participated in the traditional Carnival Parade for children. Once more, the children from the village made the difference, introducing a quite uncommon dance of the country known as La Marcada.
The original idea came from an SOS mother, who said: "The children have always been keeping up the cultural wealth of our country … this time, it would be a good idea to participate in the parade with a dance which has only rarely been performed as part of the parades in the country, which is La Marcada."
La Marcada is a typical dance of cattle breeders which is performed in the provinces of Azurduy and Zudañes in Chuquisaca. When it comes to parades, it has practically vanished, so the "rebirth" of the dance at this parade has been well-received by the audience.
The typical dance characterizes a countryside practice during a day of work. This practice consists of branding or giving names to cows. Cattle breeders brand the animals with hot iron, sealing the ears of the cows with the owner's initials. During the Carnival season, the calves' ears tips are cut and buried in a specific place. Later on, the town community celebrates a big party with everyone participating. They make rings-around-a-rosie with white flags, drink fermented corn drinks and chew coca leaves, praying to the Virgin of the Earth to multiply their cow cattle and that more cows could be branded the year to come.
A very special invitation for the children of the village
SOS Children's Village Sucre is well-known in town and highly recognized for supporting children and women in need. This is why the SOS children received a direct invitation by the mayor of the city, who is well aware of the fact that the children's presentation is always among the best.
During the parade, several people from the audience greeted the children and encouraged them to continue with the same enthusiasm. Others preferred to congratulate the kids by inviting them to a soft drink on their passing-by. Similarly, one of the teenagers invited the mayor of the city, Ms Aydeé Nava, to leave her seat at the parade and dance with him. The mayor heartily thanked the young boy and, for a few minutes, enjoyed dancing together with the group.