“For Mother Earth!”: Bolivian celebrations in New York City: Intangible cultural heritage and locality

First and second generation Bolivians are a small minority group in New York City, yet their celebrations and traditions are equally recognised among other Latino groups in the city. This ethnographic study is based on the findings of a fieldwork study on Bolivian celebrations in New York City in 2022, analysing what informants retain from their Bolivian culture and how their sense of belonging is built on the urban periphery of Northern Queens. Bolivian celebrations are at the core of Bolivia’s intangible cultural heritage. To achieve a comprehensive understanding of Bolivian celebration traditions, the data have been collected by using several research methods such as questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, observation and mapping. The findings show that Bolivians celebrate their traditional parties actively in private and public places. The informants report that they build and represent their multilayered and complex identities in Bolivian celebrations and share them with others by performing their dances in parades, festivals and theatrical venues. These performances connect them to their neighbourhoods along Subway Line 7. The concentration of Bolivians in Northern Queens and their inherited respect for Mother Earth work as a cultural glue, keeping the Bolivian culture alive among informants in New York City.