While we do have some specific threads on particular issues, I figured it would be easier to make a more general thread to help represent one of the quietly influential continents on our globe and allow for more issues to be discussed.
To being with, I wish to give Peru props for a very fun way to release some frustration in the Christmas season:
Every December 25, hundreds of indigenous Andean citizens of the Chumbivilcas Province, near Cuzco, celebrate by wrapping their fists in tissue and duking it out, gladiator style, with friends and relatives. It’s not just passive aggression. Some use Takanakuy to settle serious personal or legal disputes. Your best friend stole your girlfriend? Wait for Takanakuy. Your neighbor built on your property? Wait for Takanakuy. The rules are simple: Whoever wins, wins the case. “It’s only slightly violent,” says Milagros Flores Chino, a regular participant who lives in Cuzco.
Takanakuy — which in Quechua means “when the blood is boiling” — started centuries ago in the city of Santo Tomas, according to one of the festival organizers. Lore has it that the community was so utterly isolated that the citizens had to come up with their own system for effectively settling thorny legal disputes. Punching matches seemed to provide efficient justice, and ease social tensions, besides.
But don’t assume that means Takanakuy is no-holds-barred. Biting or kicking someone when he’s down is forbidden, and there are referee-type figures equipped with colorful whips ready to separate fighters if one of them violates the rules. They’ve also added police who stand by in case things get too out of hand.
This is fascinating to me. It is also interesting that they respect this event enough to be self disciplined to continue to follow the rules both in the fights and outside of the fights. That's a cultural attribute I respect.
"Psssh. Even if you could catch a miracle on a picture any person would probably delete it to make space for more porn." - Aszur
While we do have some specific threads on particular issues, I figured it would be easier to make a more general thread to help represent one of the quietly influential continents on our globe and allow for more issues to be discussed.
To being with, I wish to give Peru props for a very fun way to release some frustration in the Christmas season:
It’s called Takanakuy, and it involves knocking out your nearest and dearest on Christmas Day.
Takanakuy — which in Quechua means “when the blood is boiling” — started centuries ago in the city of Santo Tomas, according to one of the festival organizers. Lore has it that the community was so utterly isolated that the citizens had to come up with their own system for effectively settling thorny legal disputes. Punching matches seemed to provide efficient justice, and ease social tensions, besides.
But don’t assume that means Takanakuy is no-holds-barred. Biting or kicking someone when he’s down is forbidden, and there are referee-type figures equipped with colorful whips ready to separate fighters if one of them violates the rules. They’ve also added police who stand by in case things get too out of hand.
This is fascinating to me. It is also interesting that they respect this event enough to be self disciplined to continue to follow the rules both in the fights and outside of the fights. That's a cultural attribute I respect.
"Psssh. Even if you could catch a miracle on a picture any person would probably delete it to make space for more porn." - Aszur