170 CultureShock! Chile
central region of Chile. The name comes from the Latin
words that signal the beginning of mass on this day. The
local Catholic priest, riding in a carriage, leads a procession
through the community, administering Communion to the
homebound. The priest is accompanied by hundreds of
huasos riding horses and carrying religious images. The
huasos wear traditional dress but remove their hats and
tie kerchiefs around their heads as a sign of respect. The
festival originated in the 1800s when huasos accompanied
priests travelling through sparsely populated areas in
order to protect them from thieves. Today, many children
participate in the process along with the huasos. Instead of
riding horses, they ride bicycles that have been elaborately
decorated with brightly coloured paper and streamers.Tijerales
The tijerales custom is widespread throughout Chile. Tijerales
is the Spanish word for the roof support structure of a building.
On all construction sites, regardless of whether it is a small
house in a rural area or a major skyscraper, when the tijerales
has been completed a flag is placed on the roof. There is a pause
in construction and a barbeque is held for all those involved.
Completing the tijerales symbolises that the final stage of
construction has finally been reached.NAVY DAY
Although Navy Day (May 21) is not celebrated with the
same fanfare as Fiestas Patrias, it stirs up similar feelings
of national pride. This day honours the heroism and courage
of Arturo Prat, the Chilean Navy’s main hero. The anniversary
of the Naval Battle of Iquique falls on 21 May. The battle
took place in 1879 during the War of the Pacific. Captain
Prat, outnumbered and certain to be defeated by Peruvian
ships, refused to surrender. He and his crew members died
fighting after boarding an enemy vessel. News of this act of
bravery served as a catalyst for the Chilean people and was
a turning point in the war, which Chile eventually won. The
president makes an annual ‘State of the Nation’ address on