Bolivians decorate skulls with sunglasses and cigarettes to honour the dead

La Paz, November 8

Bolivians celebrated the Day of Skulls over the weekend, a vibrant custom rooted in historical indigenous beliefs that are supposed to convey luck and safety by honouring the lifeless.

Known as “ñatitas”, the skulls are embellished and paraded to the cemetery every week after All Saints Day. Some are adorned with sun shades and cigarettes in addition to vibrant flowers and hats.

The celebration of the skulls, that are saved indoors many of the yr, is believed to have its roots within the Uru Chipaya customized of disinterring the our bodies of family members on the one-year anniversary of their demise.

The pageant this yr coincides with the inauguration of Bolivia’s new President Luis Arce, which caps a turbulent yr for the Andean nation that has been rattled during the last yr by political upheaval and the coronavirus pandemic.

“We come to ask or the devotees come here to ask for the favours they want, especially asking for health and for the well-being of the family,” mentioned Angel Aduviri, celebrating the day, including the skulls helped individuals get issues they wanted.

“In 2014, a person told the skulls that he wanted to be a lawmaker and the skulls granted his wish, the person was elected a lawmaker,” he added.

Traditions and cultures of the Aymara, Quechua and different teams stay robust in Bolivia, the place indigenous individuals are a majority in a rustic set within the coronary heart of South America.

Arce’s socialist MAS social gathering, which was in energy for nearly 14 years below indigenous chief Evo Morales till he was ousted final yr amid protests, has historically had robust ties with the nation’s indigenous teams and actions.

“I have come to visit the Natitas, we come every year, there are many devotees,” mentioned devotee Rosario Zelaya. “They are our angels, they take care of us, guide us, help us, protect us and bless us. Obviously first God and then our souls.” Reuters