Chile Forum

Our house is being built, and yesterday when I clogged my way up to see what was up, the roof rafters were up, and the workers had nailed a tree branch (twig) to the rafters. What does that mean? And, I was wondering, do they expect a "techo party" as in Panama? Our techo party there was food and beer provided by us, the workers, and a neighbor. Anyone know the right way to do things in Southern Chile? I'd like to start out on the right foot and not offend anyone. Should I invite people I know (all three of them) or should it just be the workers and us?

Love to hear anyones thoughts and experiences on this.

Vicki

Yet another German (and Austrian, and German Swiss) tradition lives in southern Chile!

Vicki, nailing a leafy twig to the topmost part of a house -- often, right on the ridge pole -- celebrates the completion of the outside framing. Probably it has a pagan origin, but I doubt that any religiosity adheres to it now (at least, not in central Europe!).

As for the party: I don't know the custom in Chile, but (absent wild warnings from those who do know), as a good democrat, I'd invite everyone, perhaps even a few neighbors whom you've yet to meet. Why not?

You know, I was thinking back, and in Panama the workers nailed a red rag to the rafters - before the roof went on. And if I recall correctly, I had cooked a Saturday meal for them prior to the techo party - roasted chicken and yellow rice. They ate "dutifully" but politely informed me that Angel, one of the workers would be glad to cook for the techo party! Something about white women not being able to cook rice! Here I can't go wrong....meat and wine. It's been a lovely experience so far, and we are certainly looking forward to indoor plumbing. Thanks!

Vicki

Usually when the vigas for the roof are close the workers will slow down the job so that it falls on a Friday late....the twig is placed...I have seen more the Chilean flag and some kind of wreath made up...it has a name and I can't remember what it is....anyway on Friday towards the end of the day the flag is placed and maybe a small amount of Chicha is had...very important...you must lead the toast and you MUST pour a samll amount of the libation onto the ground before anyone drinks and say <madre tierra> or <algo por la madre tierra>...a drink to/for mother earth.....a sign of giving back frm the harvest and the benefits she gives....Saturday the crew shows up and does mainly ceremonial light duty work of cleaning and preparing for the asado. Tradition says that you should buy a cordero to be slaughterd and cooked although you don't have to...if you slaughter a cordero then you have to have people over to help eat it....potatos...rice ...ensalada chilena etc and wine beer, chicha...delay for as long as you can the asado...the longer you delay...the calmer the drunks will be...propiety says the workers will drink as you do but start late or you will see the usgly side of your friends...make great fair of you the owner serving the workers and your nieghbors...honor them for a good job and be appreciative...sometimes money is given but I highly discourage it...better a small gift but you don't have to....if you can get a recording of the CHilean anthem and play it before you make a small speech you will have tears from everyone for sure although this isn't always done....pay homage to flag as it hangs on the ridge at the front of the house...the truth is that the solid colors look fantasticaly bueatiful against the new timber and the green of the forest and the sky above....get someone to bring a guitar and after the asado sit and you can sing the folk songs that they all like...some will wander into the forest for a nap and then its time for more songs, fruit with creme and tecito or whatever...this is a big deal and your generosity at this time will be remembered and talked about...and i don't mean generosity in the sense of lavish gifts etc but more your open hearted invitation to bring your friend, nieghbors to your hearth to celebrate...everything you do will be noticed and remembered for years to come from this day, so plan well, be calm and gracious, have a good time...have high expectations of your guests not to get drunk and beligerent but to join in and share together the day and they will meet you there...

Puelche out

PS: as the boss you should designate someone from the crew to run the cooking of the meet..they will make it known who they want and it is a great honor to do this....food is taken very seriously in CHile and the asado above all else...if youdo a full asado and in the true patagonian way...it will be done beneath a tree with a long(9 feet) metal spade that is used to skewer the meat...the pointed end goes on the ground and the other end with a pastor's hook is at the top where a chain is attached and from there it is hoisted onto a branch the tree...the fire is beneath in the center of the spade that sits at an angle over it....the meat is braided through the spade...the meat at the the lower side is well done and as it climbs up the spade is less well done.....tradition is that everyone cuts thier own meat from the spade...you don't have too and it isn't as serious as it once was but it is a way for the patron to show his dominence and cut his meat with an extremely sharp knife and allow it to glide onto his plate...you as the owner of the house would have sent to have made a spade as they get quite decoraetive at the crook...and so have it ready for the asado...you most likely don't have one so know would be the time to get it so that when the house is done you can have the asado with it everyone again...you will be famous for this respect of the culture and obvious desire to make yourself a part of it all....be carefull and sdon't do too good of a job as you might be encouraged to sponser alot of asados and if it comes to that point...then you can't refuse or face a demotion in the eyes of the community...I think with the dog routine...you are behind so this will help you to catch up and amend...

make a toast for el puelche and see what they say...

.

Wow, wow, wow! I'd better get my ass in gear! Although my twig went up on a Wednesday, today is Thursday, a little close to plan something for two days from now. Would it be an awful faux paux to plan for next Satruday????? Also, is it bad manners to borrow one of those spear-like things from a neighbor for the asado? I have the guitar, and here, we sing the Futaleufu song instead of the Chilean National Anthem! Odd little place.

Anyway, I thank you all, so very much for the advice. I'll take pictures and report back.

Vicki
From the Place Painted by God

Vicki and Greg Lansen wrote:. . . . [H]ere, we sing the Futaleufu song instead of the Chilean National Anthem! . . . .

I, for one, would be interested in hearing that song. Might you record it and place it on "YouTube"?

P.S. -- Not to harass but to encourage, I might guess that workmen and neighbors alike would appreciate a hastily put-together asado this Saturday more than a carefully planned one next. -- RWS

Certainly not harassment, possibly a good suggestion. And yes, I will try to find the song for you. Futa, by the way is only 84-85 years old, and fiercely independent and wildly proud. It's an awesome place, a little hard to figure out how you fit in, but now that I have my national ID card, and they know we are here year round, we are suddenly "in". I think.

Here are the words, please forgive my misspelled Spanish. My friend, Guido Retamal wrote this down for me. He is the author of two books on Futa, and is the sole constructor of the beautiful snow sculpture I uploaded in the photo album here. A sidenote...Futa has a wickedly fierce snow-sculpting contest each year. Guido won in 2007 with the one you will find there.

(Vals de Futaleufu)

Es mi tierra valle hermoso
Rio Grande que busca la mar
Es mi tierra la mas bello
de este Chile tan Austral

Los colonos ya se fueron
el invierno los vencio'
y los campos se cubieron
con el fruto de su amor

Futaleufu, los cirvelos maduran la flor
Futaleufu, un paisaje pintado por Dios
Futaleufu, van los ninos riendose al sol
"Sierra Huacha" que lindo lugar
pa' mirate, guererte y rezar

Futaleufu....

something like that in a slow, lilting waltz.

Very nice! What you write reminds me a bit of Aspen, Colorado (having been put in mind of my distant past by El P.'s quotation from the town's newspaper), and its environs before the hippy transformation of the mid-1960s: a newish town (ca. 1880, if I remember correctly) but with a feeling of great age, eccentric and charming.

By the way, I think that the second stanza of the waltz may contain the words "fueron" and "cubieron".

Really a charming poem. I'm looking forward to hearing the melody, too.

I have an even more difficult time with the writing in Spanish, more so than the spoken word. No, actually, about the same. Anyway I'll correct that! Thanks. Now, everyone, join in.....

(swaying with love and adoration...oom pa pa, oom pa pa)

Foo ta loo foo.....

¡Tijerales! Chilean flag on top of roof, asado y vino
Congratulations!

I made with every roof
http://www.bradanovic.cl/hcasa3/casa3.htm

I like your chapter-by-chapter telling of the purchase (sight unseen!) of a home lot and construction of your residence on it, Tomás. There's little to compare with the satisfaction of building your own home, is there?

And I like your dog.