We Tripantu - 21st June
Music, Food and Films to enjoy a different culture from a world away - this time we go to Chile!
It is the time of the solstice!
The longest or shortest day depending where you are, has been noticed pretty much universally across cultures.
Today we are going to Chile!
Queue the music!
As always I make a playlist to listen to as you read and cook. Listen to a wide range of Chilean music and enjoy!
Meet the Mapuche
South America is where corn, beans, squash, potatoes, tomatoes, and chili peppers were cultivated - hence the food is incredible!
The largest indigenous group of the very south of the continent is the Mapuche.
Similar to the Tibetans mentioned last month, the Mapuche have struggled under a incoming world - the Spanish, Chilean and Argentinian rule.
Early colonisation has left brutal stories of war heroes - such as Galvarino, a Mapuche warrior who had his hands chopped off only to return to battle the Spanish with knives strapped to his arms!
The Mapuche have a proud history.
We Tripantu
Translated as ‘the return of the sun’, is the shortest day of the year and symbolic of a start of a new year for the Mapuche. There is dancing, singing, food and stories - typically lasting the full 24 hours!
There also is a strange game called ‘Awar Kuden’ which any kids may enjoy! Essentially you paint on side of the bean and use them like dice, shaking and dropping them, then counting how many land face up. Every time more than half land face up you get a point - first to 10!
What to eat?
I was torn to suggest a more realistic recipe that I would cook and cook again or go for something more Mapuche, more traditional Pastel de Choclo - a cornbread, beef, chicken, and olive pie!
Empanadas won (sorry).
Personally, we bought some premade shortcrust pastry and filled with veggies but if you wanted to start from scratch - watch this:
Also fun fact, some people think Empanadas are related to Cornish Pasties, but they are not - Empanadas have Arabic origins. There is the Mexican Paste that is related but they are different!
What to watch?
For something that will take you through a range of emotions, I recommend this from Netflix. A sad/happy film based in Chile with the guy from Lost! Beautifully filmed, sometimes creepy, you will have mixed feelings about the character!
For something lighter, I have made this playlist for you - my favourite was ‘Here’s the plan’ (see the poster below)!
In the playlist is the Mapuche creation story, some beautiful Chilean animation shorts and a few secret fun videos!
That’s it!
Enjoy! Please think about subscribing or sharing with others who may enjoy a “no worries”/de nada nights!
Each month we find an event you haven’t heard of and enjoy the music, food and film related to it!
Sampled the playlist, great stuff! 😃