Abstract

REMORINI, Carolina; JACOB, Analía; MORGANTE, María Gabriela  and  TEVES, Laura. Becoming alferez. Learning through participation in community celebrations (Calchaqui Valleys. Argentina). Runa [online]. 2020, vol.41, n.2, pp.301-318. ISSN 1851-9628.  http://dx.doi.org/10.34096/runa.v41i2.6195.

We ethnographically characterize children and young learning through their participation in religious celebrations taking place in a town located in the Calchaqui Valleys (Salta). We focus on the developing of crucial skills that allow children and young to be part of activities that require cooperation relationship in the framework of their participation in an institution: the group of “alfereces”. We performed interviews with “alfereces” of different age and gender as well as observations and visual record of the celebration and activities related to it. We identified the relevant features of this role: how alfereces are initiated, which skills they should develop, which activities they perform, and the conditions that favor or limit the continuity of this institution. The Celebration requires the coordinated effort of the different groups of alfereces, institutions, and neighbors, and constitutes the only instance for learning and practice of relevant skills to become alferez. In that framework, intergenerational exchange and reciprocity are key for its development.

Keywords : Ethnography; Childhood; Development; Skills; Religious ceremonias.

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