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At the end of December in the municipality of Guapi in the south of the department of Cauca, the traditional Carnival of the "Matachines" takes place, a festival that takes place on the 28th of the month (Day of the Holy Innocents) in several municipalities of the country.
In the days before the celebration, the town prepares with parades of troupes and caravans in which the inhabitants pay tribute to the culture and history of the region, preparing the festive atmosphere for the day of the matachines.
On the day of the festival the life of the entire town revolves around the game. The activity is led by the matachines, people who dress up with masks and extravagant costumes and, whip in hand, walk the streets scaring and hitting neighbors who leave their homes to participate in the celebration.
That day commercial activities and vehicle circulation are prohibited, leaving all of Guapi at the mercy of the mischievous matachines and their whips.
When noon arrives, the game ends and the terror of the matachines gives way to the popular festival with music, dancing, cornstarch and liquor through the streets of the town.
The Guapi "Matachines" Carnival is not only a space for fun, but also an opportunity to keep ancestral customs alive and strengthen community ties around music, dance and spirituality of the Colombian Pacific.
