Abstract

BENAVIDEZ, Ariel Carlos René. Traditions that to break. Past and present of the conmemoration to the pig iron`s day on Palpalá. Cuad. Fac. Humanid. Cienc. Soc., Univ. Nac. Jujuy [online]. 2014, n.46, pp.69-84. ISSN 1668-8104.

Palpalá City had a close relationship with the former -  industrial complex state Altos Hornos Zapla (AHZ). Annually, every October 11, marks the first casting of pig iron, when it began production of iron in 1945 at the steel mill. This event resulted in a traditional celebration known as the "National Day of Pig Iron", which lasted until the company was privatized. Among the common events were: the protocol act of the directors of the company, the choice of cast iron queen, dinner and dancing pig. Today this holiday is not practiced, but continued to commemorate the day of pig iron, but by acts by different groups. In the research, called on news sources and field work for a approximate characterization and comparison of different historical moments of the festival. It was noted as the first difference the symbolic content and social homogeneity of the Pig Party of yesteryear. In contrast, these acts are of differing content and different connotations, ranging from the commemoration emphasized in the evocative, nostalgic and anecdotal, and in other cases, the commemoration was turning into a protest rally and complaining of the damage caused and the lack of transparency of privatization. It also identified other contemporary ritual event, with different contents and different degrees of social participation and specificity that correspond to the fragmentation caused by the privatization of AHZ

Keywords : Palpalá; Pig iron's day; Rituals; To break.