The Imposition of the Holy Cross over the Chakana

Abstract

The celebration of the Chakana—which has been syncretized with the festivity of the Cross of May or of the Crosses—has long been one of the most important festivals of the central Andes region. It marks the start of the annual dry season, which symbolizes the masculine half and the time of the living and lasts until the start of November, when the rainy season begins and, with it, the time of the feminine half and of the dead. At the start of May, the constellation of the Southern Cross, or Chakana—composed of the stars Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta—can be seen clearly in the central Andes at night when the skies are clear. This timing coincides with the harvest season, mainly of potato. In Runasimi, the Quechua language, “Chakana” means “bridge or union with the Hanan Pacha,” which is the upper cosmogonic level: chaka means “bridge or union,” while hanan means “up,” “high,” or “large” (Burgoa Coria 2012). Its cosmogonic meaning is key, and so is its ritual one, making the Chakana the most important icon in the central Andes (Milla 1983). Its celestial and agricultural value led to its celebration, which, according to archaeological records, dates back 4,000 years.