The patron saint festivities in Putre: a form of familial sharing

This article aims to provide an ethnographic description of the patron saint festivities ("Fiesta Patronal") in the XV Region of Arica and Parinacota, held annually on August 15 in Putre, a town located in the Andean foothills. This celebration is described as a union between Christian religiosity and indigenous Aymara customs and rituals. These festivities have a significance in the life of the Andean people, not only as a reflection of their belief systems, but also in the way they relate to the social-economic sphere and their communal way of life, in which sharing among neighbors, friends and family is an important part of everyday life. It is important to highlight the idea of protecting a cultural identity and the institution of marriage, as the men and women who preside over this festival are symbols of the complementary duality always present in the various traditions of Andean culture.