Indigenous people in Central America had a rich historical culture involving many elements and traditions. In this project, the focus is Chicha, an Andean drink that was a central part of almost every aspect of Indian lives.
Everyday life included lots of work for the Indians and most of the time it involved long hours in the sun while planting, harvesting, building and many other tasks. The staple beverage for the indigenous people was chicha. The women were typically the only people allowed to brew chicha. Sometimes the elder members of the community would help but for the most part, it was a woman’s job. They became very skilled in the art of producing it whether in smaller quantities for their own house or in large batches for ceremonial or communal purposes.
There also some political and economic purposes for chicha. The order in which chicha was served showed the hierarchy in indigenous communities. The most important drank first and served the chicha to the gods. It was also used as currency to compensate the men who worked for the state.
Chicha’s greatest importance was in religious aspects. The Indians had a high adoration for their gods and participated in many rituals in hopes of pleasing their gods. Reciprocity was a main ideal for indigenous people and they used chicha to ask favors or thank their deities. It was customary to bring a glass of chicha for the god and pour it into a special vessel so that the Indians could drink with their gods. They considered it a bonding between them that would result in the gods taking care of the community. They would also sprinkle some chicha on the ground before the planting season in hopes of pleasing the earth and ensuring rich, hydrated soils for their crops.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/23645628
Logan, Amanda L., Christine A. Hastorf and Deborah M. Pearsall. “”LET’S DRINK TOGETHER”: EARLY CEREMONIAL USE OF MAIZE IN THE TITICACA BASIN.” Latin American Antiquity Vol. 23. No. 3 (September 2012): pp. 235-258. Online.
Picture 1-http://stravaganzastravaganza.blogspot.com/2011/06/agriculture-of-pre-columbian-america.html
Picture 2-http://lorenza-chichajora.es.tl/CHICHA-DE-JORA-.htm