International Student Welcoming
This is a picture of a Mapuche (native culture of Chile) dedication and blessing ceremony that was performed on Thursday in the city´s main park. It was a very powerful, serious ceremony performed in Mapudangui, their native language. The approximately five minute offering performed by the Machi (the religious, doctor, psychologist figure) consisted of asking permission for being in the park in general, permission for the foreign students to pass into Chile with God´s (named Mari Mari and an energy identified with the sun) blessing as well, and thanks for the energy that she gives to us. The offering in general was to give back to Mari Mari a little bit of what is given to us in order to show appreciation. (Along the same line- a custom of theirs is to pour a little bit of whatever they are drinking out into the earth before partaking. And that includes when they are eating in restaurants...I asked. They will literally take their cup of juice or wine or whatever and go outside to poor some of it our before drinking any of it.)
The whole event was put on by the municipality of Santiago in order to welcome foreign students and invite them to get to know the culture of Santiago and Chile a bit better- it also consisted in live music and an exhibition of traditional Chilean dances, inlcuding from Chile´s polynesian Easter Island, as well as a BBQ on the hill with a spectacular view of Santiago.
Additionally, there was a tree planting ceremony between the Mapuches and two foreign students- one of whom was my roomate Hector! It was so neat- he is very lucky to be have been able to leave such a mark here in Santiago.
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