La Pica de Leña
La Pica de Leña (Chopping firewood) a celebration that reflects the Nicoya people’s identity
For over 470 years Nicoyans have commemorated the tradition of La Pica de Leña (chopping firewood).
La Pica de Leña is observed on the second Saturday of November. It consists of chopping, collecting and transporting the necessary wood for the festival of the Virgin of Guadalupe, the patron saint of Nicoya. The festival is held on December 12.
Historically this celebration was part of La Fiesta del Sol celebrated by the Chorotega indigenous people before they recognized the Virgin of Guadalupe as their patron saint.
Vast amounts of volunteer work and preparations are required in order to keep this tradition alive.
The event starts early in the morning, around 4:00 am. Men gather at the Cofradía, the Virgin House, where the activities begin.
Volunteer women cook for days before to prepare a much needed hardy breakfast for the woodcutters. This traditional breakfast consists of pozol (a traditional corn preparation between soup and stew), corn tortillas, rosquillas (similar to a cookie, made with corn flour) and coffee.
Special drinks such as Tiste, made with grain cocoa, rice, pepper and cloves, Chicheme, made with Pujagua corn (a variety of purple corn), ginger and sugar cane, and Chicha, a traditional fermented drink based on corn are also served in this event.
In concordance with the Chorotega indigenous tradition, the majority of meals and drinks prepared in this activity are based on corn.
After breakfast, the men head out to the farm located on the outskirts of the city about 3 km away.
Families and individuals attend the event to watch the devoted woodcutters carry out the hard labour using axes, machetes, oxcarts, oxen and horses.
The sound of the joyful work mixes with live marimba music. People dance and revel in the excitement – there may even be some “moonshine” offered!
Once the wood is cut it is piled on the oxcarts. The oxen that have been waiting patiently in the shade of the trees are brought out to play their part in the activity.
Beautiful brightly hand painted ox carts, traditionally decorated with gorgeous geometrical and flower patterns, together with the beauty and strength of the oxen provide a unique thrill.
Listening to the wheels turn is a remarkable experience with each oxcart creating a distinctive sound.
With the wood loaded and the oxen ready it is time to take the wood to the Cofradía (the Virgin house).
The procession is lead by La Señorita (which is what the locals call the Virgin of Guadalupe) followed by the oxen, horses and woodcutters.
The parade fills the 3 km back to Nicoya, traveling through the main street and around the Central Park to the Cofradía. There the wood is unloaded and stacked to dry for use in the next year’s festival.
The Cofradia then provides a lunch to anyone in the community who wants to eat. During the next few days the preparations continue for the main celebration on December 12.
La Pica de Leña offers a wonderful opportunity to experience the rich culture and hospitality of the people of Nicoya.
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