Every third week of August, Bolivians flock to the Virgin of Urkupina festival in Quillacollo. Here they buy miniature objects, in the belief that they will receive the real objects in the future as blessings. Everything is to be found in miniature: houses, cars, babies, food, certificates, money, visas, flight tickets etc. This ritual leads to many questions like: Who is Urkupina? Why does she give blessings? What’s the skinny on buying miniatures? And does this really work?
Who is Urkupina and Why Does She Give Blessings?
This was the first question that came to mind when I discovered this ritual. There are several legends. However, the most common is that of a poor shepherd girl that saw the Virgin Mary appear while flocking sheep upon a hillside near Quillacollo. The Virgin told the girl to gather stones and bring them to her family.
Following the orders of the Virgin, the girl gathered several stones and carried them home. Reaching home, the stones had turned to silver. Resulting in that the girl and her family were pulled out of poverty. When others asked the little girl about the Virgin and where she was, the shepherd girl responded in the native language of Quechua, “Urqupiña”. Meaning, she is already in the hill.
Bolivians believe the Virgin of Urkupina will bless them if they go to the place the little shepherd girl observed her in the dates. They take out pieces of stone from the hillside believing it will bring them luck. In addition they buy the object or status they desire to get in the future.
Buying Miniature Items at Virgin of Urkupina festival in Quillacollo
However, it is important that after purchase the object goes through a little ceremony over the traditional K’oa. Here the blessing is asked for the specific person buying the object.
The objects can be miniature vegetables for a bounty of food in your house the upcoming year. Dollar bills for prosperity. You can also buy certificates of marriage, job, good health, and university degrees. But that’s not all, you can buy miniature stores for a businesses, houses, and cars which is very common. Want to travel? You can buy suitcases with a visa and passport in it.
You can also go to the c