Theatricality and identity in the first edition of the National Festival of Calf and Branding Day

Abstract

The National Festival of Calf and Branding Day was conceived from its inception in the late sixties of the twentieth century as one of the strongest expressions of the traditions that made local identity. The tradition is recreated from the community participation in different events, such as the declaration of branding season, the parade, the criollo lunch, the election of the queen, the presence of popular fires and craft fairs, among others. These events of ritual or symbolic nature, allowed to signify a set of practices inherent to the Pampas agriculture in the whole community of Ayacucho.
In this paper we propose to study these events in order to shed light on the society that celebrates the festival and the significations it gives, but also on those who organize the festival, their interests and their representations of the reality of the time. The festival is a social product, therefore to inquire into the rites and theatricalities that are manifested in the celebration time will enrich our analysis on the choice of the object which is celebrated and its celebrant subjects.