Pachamama is worshiped at different times of the year; however, these rituals intensify on this date and throughout the month. Mother Earth is thought to be hungry and to persuade her into being generous with people she is entertained and “fed” with offerings made up of different food, drinks and coca.
The Worship of Pachamama is an Incaic tradition which has strongly survived in the province of Jujuy. People from La Quebrada and La Puna have been venerating Pachamama for centuries, even though they intensely profess the Catholic faith. The word “Pachamama” derives from the Quichua terms “Pacha” (earth or world) and “Mama” (mother), a symbol of nature’s fertility. To honor her, people dig a pit in backyards, fields or yards, and each member of the family throws alcohol, wine, chicha or “yerbiado” (mate with alcohol), typical dishes, or fruits, and they make a cross with coca leaves and a cigar, which is lit so “she” can smoke too. This ritual involving “feeding the earth” is called “corpachada” and it is performed looking towards the East. When the ritual finishes, a village elder throws dirt into the pit, followed by the rest of the participants, and they bury all the wine bottles. Finally, a stone is placed on top of the covered pit in order to mark this place until the following year, where the ceremony will take place again.
During or after this ritual, near the pit or inside the house, a special aromatic substance is prepared with incandescent ember, aromatic herbs, such as “coba” or “pular,” coca and eucalyptus leaves, in order to purify the place and rooms, and keep evil spirits away.