San Juan festival takes place every year from June 23-25, although officially it is June 24 that marks the festival. It is an amazing celebration of water, culture and regional food. Since St. John was associated with water baptism, water is the gift of life for this region. It revitalizes the earth, plants and gives home to multitudes of animals.   

According the some sources there is a legend, that a message was said to be given to a man from the Jibaro tribe after he saw an apparition in the jungle while hunting. He proclaimed a miracle to his village, and dreamed that night that St. John the Baptist spoke to him and instructed him to build a church in his name.

The festival is marked by regional music and dancing and all day long events. Llanchama held it own San Juan festival with tons of activities.

 Dancing: Madre Llanchama and the dancers are celebrating and revitalizing regional and local traditions through music and dance.

This folkloric dance is to teach us to protect and care for the environment specifically the trees. The area surrounding Llanchama is being more heavily deforested for commerical rather than local purposes. This dance is intended revitalize the local cultural roots and promote regional pride.

Padre Aguaje and Madre Llanchama: These are the spirits that protect the trees teaching us to care for the plants and the earth that give us life through the products they provide us.

Music

This guy has real talent! He can play the recorder (quena) with his nose, very amusing to watch.

Raising the Humisha.

 A palm treet that holds presents and when chopped down people fight for the gifts.

Here we are preparing to chop down the humisha. The dancers, several professors, Junior, me and Madre Llanchama danced around the humisha.

Junior dancing around the humisha with Madre Llanchama (Doña Yolanda).

Madre Llanchama