La Parranda de San Pedro de Guarenas y GuatireVenezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)
Representative List 2013
EN: Early in the morning of June 29th, the sanpedrenos prepare for the celebration. In each of the venues of the Parrandas, everyone works together to give the final touches before heading out to the streets.
EN: The lead character of this celebration is Maria Ignacia, who, in every parranda is played by a man, bearing in his hands a rag doll that symbolizes her daughter Rosa Ignacia
EN: At the church of "Santa Cruz de Pacairigua" in Guarenas, and in the Cathedral "Nuestra señora de Copacabana" in Guarenas, the parrandas together with the community, displays the popular beliefs that unites the in honor of the Saint them
EN: The celebration is open to all, including those who are sanpedreños and those who are not. Everyone takes the streets, and each Parranda expresses their happiness and tradition through ritual, music, and popular dance
EN: The community entrust their children to the parranderos to be "danced" for their health and well being
EN: The "Parranda de San Pedro", is a popular tradition passed down from father to son with their faces painted in black, this tradition is rooted in the hearts of the people of Guarenas and Guatire.
EN: Accompanied by the sound of music, the parranderos dance and stomp their cotizas (leather soles tied to their traditional Venezuelan sandals called "alpargatas").
EN: The instrumentation of the "Parranda de San Pedro" is defined by the playing of cuatro (four string guitar) and maracas. The musical performance, follows a 6/8 rhythm, and is complemented with lyrical improvisation
EN: In the Parrandas, the Tucusitos are distinguished by the colors they use in their costumes:red and blue in Guarenas and red and yellow in Guatire. These characters represent the reconciliation of differences and the ongoing search for peace.
EN: The vitality of the "Parranda de San Pedro" lies in the transmission of knowledge to new generations, who with joy and enthusiasm take on the challenge and expression that constitutes a cultural heritage for all Venezuelans
