Pampa mesa explained

In indigenous communities of the Ecuadorian highlands, a pampa mesa or pamba mesa is a communal meal of food laid directly on a cloth spread on the ground.[1] [2] The meal is seen as an act of social solidarity; it also has mythological connotations.

Etymology

The name "pampa mesa" comes from the Kichwa pampa, meaning "ground"[3] or "plain",[4] and Spanish mesa, meaning "table".[5]

Description

The origins of the pampa mesa tradition are unknown.[6] Pampa mesas often are used at festivals, at family celebrations, or after mingas (gatherings for communal work).[1] [6] [7]

For a pampa mesa, a long, typically white cloth is spread on the ground.[6] [8] Traditionally, participants in a pampa mesa bring the food they are able to share, and each spreads the food he or she brought along the cloth for all to eat.[8] [9] Once the food is spread along the cloth, participants sit along the cloth and use their hands to eat, rather than using utensils and dishes.[7] Before eating, a community leader may give thanks for the food, and a portion of the food may be buried as an offering to the earth mother.

The food on a pampa mesa tends to be largely staple items such as mote, potatoes, quinoa, oca, carrots, and fava beans.[9] Sometimes, cuy (guinea pig) and other meats are present.[6] Flowers and fruits may be used to decorate the pampa mesa. The spicy condiment ají frequently is served alongside the pampa mesa. The fermented beverage chicha de jora sometimes accompanies a pampa mesa.[7]

Interpretation

Pampa mesas are a form of social solidarity: all contribute as they are able, and partake as they wish.[7] [10] Some believe that sitting on the earth and eating from a pampa mesa is a form of connection with Pachamama (earth mother), a goddess in Inca mythology who continues to be an object of reverence in Ecuador.[1] [11] A pampa mesa also may be seen as an act of thanksgiving for the harvest.[11]

Similar practices

A similar tradition in Peru and Bolivia is called apthapi.[12]

Notes and References

  1. News: La pampamesa, antiguo ritual con significado espiritual. Marín. Jaime. June 26, 2017. Diario Expreso. July 3, 2019. es. The pampamesa, ancient ritual with spiritual significance. https://web.archive.org/web/20190703231428/https://www.expreso.ec/actualidad/la-pampamesa-antiguo-ritual-con-significado-espiritual-DM1493036. July 3, 2019. live.
  2. News: Tradición ancestral con la pampamesa. March 20, 2019. Diario El Norte. July 3, 2019. es. Ancestral tradition with the pampamesa. https://web.archive.org/web/20190703231426/https://www.elnorte.ec/intercultural/tradicion-ancestral-con-la-pampamesa-CE350433. July 3, 2019. live.
  3. Book: Sandoval, Angel Herbas. Diccionario quichua a castellano. 1998. Tunturi Qañiywa. 313. qu, es.
  4. Book: Markham, Sir Clements Robert. Contributions Towards a Grammar and Dictionary of Quichua: The Language of the Incas of Peru. 1972. Biblio Verlag. 210. 9783764804916 . en.
  5. Book: Concise Oxford Spanish Dictionary: Spanish-English/English-Spanish. registration. mesa table spanish dictionary.. Carvajal. Carol Styles. Horwood. Jane. Rollin. Nicholas. 2004. Oxford University Press. 9780198609773. 424. es.
  6. Book: Glosario del Patrimonio Inmaterial del Azuay. 2010. Instituto Nacional del Patrimonio Inmaterial. Cuenca, Ecuador. 202. es. Glossary of Immaterial Patrimony of Azuay. 2019-07-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20190705164534/http://patrimoniocultural.gob.ec/glosario-patrimonio-inmaterial/. 2019-07-05. live.
  7. News: La pambamesa es el refrigerio de moda en Riobamba. Márquez. Cristina. May 6, 2015. El Comercio. July 3, 2019. es. The pambamesa is the trendy catered meal in Riobamba. https://web.archive.org/web/20190703231434/https://www.elcomercio.com/actualidad/ecuador-riobamba-pambamesa-refrigerio-tradicion.html. July 3, 2019. live.
  8. News: La Pampa Mesa sobre un mantel azul (primera parte). September 27, 2016. La Tarde. July 3, 2019. es. The Pampa Mesa on a blue tablecloth (first part). https://web.archive.org/web/20190703231428/http://www.late.com.ec/2016/09/27/la-pampa-mesa-sobre-un-mantel-azul-primera-parte/. July 3, 2019. live.
  9. News: La pamba mesa, un verdadero ritual. January 13, 2017. La Hora. July 3, 2019. es. The pamba mesa, a true ritual. https://web.archive.org/web/20190703231424/https://lahora.com.ec/noticia/1102020276/la-pamba-mesa-un-verdadero-ritual-. July 3, 2019. live.
  10. News: La pamba mesa: Tradición para compartir en comunidad. September 27, 2015. La Hora. July 3, 2019. es. The pamba mesa: Tradition to share in community. https://web.archive.org/web/20190703231424/https://www.lahora.com.ec/noticia/1101867812/la-pamba-mesa-tradicin-para-compartir-en-comunidad-. July 3, 2019. live.
  11. News: Alimentos que se comparten en la Pampa mesa. June 23, 2016. El Tiempo. July 3, 2019. es. Foods that are shared in the Pampa mesa. https://web.archive.org/web/20190703231426/https://www.eltiempo.com.ec/noticias/cultura/7/alimentos-que-se-comparten-en-la-pampa-mesa. July 3, 2019. live.
  12. Matute García. Segundo Patricio. Parra Contreras. Adriana Cristina. Parra Parra. Jorge Leonidas. December 2018. Alimentos ancestrales que sanan. Ancestral foods that heal. Revista de la Facultad de Ciéncias Medicas de la Universidad de Cuenca. 36. 3. 52–58. 2661-6777. es. 2019-07-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20190705170850/https://publicaciones.ucuenca.edu.ec/ojs/index.php/medicina/article/view/2504/1611. 2019-07-05. live.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Pampa mesa".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.