SOULS DOWN

Is is believed that every year the almitas come on midday on 1

november , go round their relatives’houses and leave on the 2 november

at the same time they arrived.

it is a private devotion by relatives and friends of the dead person, preparations for which take up

several days.

Plenty of food isprepared,the offerings, which are placed on a table prepared for the purpose.

The offerings are made from flour dough, either savoury or sweet, in

different shapes :likeguaguas(baby) whose eyes, hair and other

adornments are made from black dough, using the soot from the oven

Little angels to help the souls to come down;stairs so the soul can come down to aet and go up again, little doves which, mean the glory we all hope for ;hearts and crowns on which the name of the soul is placed;the cross because theyare considered tobe good Christians.

According to belief,the little souls drink the juice of the foods,so on each plate they put a vegetable tube, an onion flower and cane spoons.

The drinks, served in glasses or in opened bottles to ensure the souls

can drink.

the appropriate ceremonial dishes, such as kalapurca, majadillo, machrra, hot corn off the cob, quinoa stew, and sweets such as capia, empanadillas, lardy cakesand the rest.

Flowers and lit candles and a glass of holy water , with which each

one will sprinkle the dead person on entering, complete this ritual banquet, liberally accompanied

with chichi, an indispensable part of the ritual.

On the morning of 2 november, a visit is paid to the dead .prayers,flowers

and wreaths of paper flowers give the cementery a really festive air because

of the colorful decorations on the tombs and the activity provoked by

the arrival of the souls.

Back home,they “clear the table”, first retaining a portion of each dish and

drink to “offer to Pachamama”.

This invitation to the deity occurs outside the house, always in the same place ,where the food is buried, prayers said and drink offered by throwing it down in the shape of a cross.

Integrantes:Lescano Micaela

Albornoz Guadalupe VerónicaCorrea Belén

Mendoza Lorena