This Thursday, February 24, the "Comadres" will gather at the Integration Avenue, where the Municipal Government of Tarija will hold the "Traditional Meeting of "Comadres". Vaccination card will be controlled
Comadres Thursday has arrived and, after two years of pandemic, groups of friends are preparing to share pleasant moments. And not only in Tarija, because this festivity has gained followers throughout the country over the years. According to researchers, this festival has its origins in Spain, although it was influenced by the local agricultural calendar.
In Tarija it is more than an institution, it is a tradition that reflects the Tarija people's way of being, cheerful and friendly. Jacinta has made comadres since she was ten years old, she assures that the Chapaca tradition is in her blood. She remembers that several decades ago entire families were dedicated to the handmade elaboration of "tortas" for sale.
The "tortas" sellers were known in Tarija as "Comadres artesanas", being the traditional places of elaboration and sale of these delicacies the San Roque and El Molino neighborhoods, in addition to the town of San Lorenzo, known as "Tarija, la Vieja" (Old Tarija).
"First it was the mothers, then the daughters and today the granddaughters and great-granddaughters who keep this tradition alive", explain some of the comadres who still persist in working in the elaboration of the cake, in spite of their advanced age.
Jacinta says that since she was a child she helped her mother to sell the cakes and reveals that she later taught her own daughters how to make them. However, she is reluctant to give us the recipe, while she arranges her baskets on pillars to take them to sell them at the Theme Park, since this is now the place where they are sold.
"Before, it used to be very nice, more joyful the feast of Thursday of Comadres", remembers with nostalgia Victoria Mogro, one of the oldest "cumitas" of Tarija and part of "the traditional comadres of the San Roque neighborhood".
Although today the tradition is still very much alive, they say that there was a time when it declined, but the effort of the "cumas" Chapacas managed to bring it back to life.
The rescue of the party
According to the Tarija writer René Aguilera Fierro, in the 1980s the custom of compadres and comadres resurfaced with great interest. The tradition was reborn in Tarija, turning to the neighborhoods and streets, with great color, joy and simplicity.
For the historical character, Aguilera emphasizes that it should be mentioned that until 2002 it was celebrated and danced in the square "Luis de Fuentes" or Main Square. He says that there, in front of the kiosk, a precarious stage was set up, where the authorities and the qualifying jury were installed, the few groups of comadres arrived by General Trigo street.
According to the writer, the most enthusiastic were the comadres of El Molino and San Roque neighborhoods, in addition to other groups that were organized circumstantially, because the members did not have the vision of organization so they quickly dissolved.
The celebration began on the eve with the preparation of cakes, which were sold in markets and adjacent streets, thus began to grow the installation of stalls selling cane baskets, cakes, banderillas, mixtures, streamers, candy and fruit.
Until 1997, the entrance of the compadres was only at night, in the groups only the men danced, but since 1998, it took place in the morning and in the company of their partners, according to the story "this was a success".
Thus, from the year 2000, the party was held at the Compadres Field. While the party of the comadres, both during the day and at night, was a preview of the Carnival and after the main entrance was held in private homes or premises. Care was always taken to restrict the entrance of men.
According to Aguilera Fierro, the group of comadres from the El Molino neighborhood, who organized themselves during the 1983 carnival with the objective of celebrating with the family, should be highlighted as pioneers. They went out to the Uriondo square to express their joy, being this the first public manifestation of the Comadres Festival. In chronological order, the Comadres of the San Roque neighborhood followed, who organized themselves in 1986.
The last year that the entrance of Comadres was held in the Plaza "Luis de Fuentes" was in 1999; the stage was changed for a more comfortable and spacious stage, which was located on the corner of General Trigo and 15 de Abril Streets. From the year 2001, the city council decided to hold the Entrada de Comadres in the Avenida "Victor Paz Estenssoro" and nowadays it is held in the Avenida Integración.
The Integration Avenue will gather the "Comadres".
The "Encuentro Tradicional de Comadres", an event organized by the Department of Tourism and Cultures of the Municipal Government of Cercado, will take place in the Integration Avenue.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, participation was limited to no more than 20 members per group.
In addition, those wishing to participate must present their vaccination card.
As of Wednesday, only five groups had registered, however, it is expected that more participants will register during the course of the day.
The event will start at 18.30. Attendees will be controlled to wear a mask and alcohol gel.
Tickets are on sale at the Tourist Office and at the Revenue Office, at El Molino market.
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