The Huaconada is a ritual dance held on 1, 2 and 3 January in Mito, in Junín’s Mantaro Valley. Men called huacones, wearing carved wooden masks with huge hooked noses, walk and dance through the town with whips, representing ancestral authorities who judge and punish bad behaviour. UNESCO inscribed it in 2010.
The huacones embody a council of elders whose role is to restore social order at the start of the year. During the three days, they move with stately, solemn steps, interrupted by sudden gestures and the crack of the whip, and the townspeople respect their authority. There are two kinds: the older, traditional huacones with serious faces, and the ‘modern’ ones whose masks and movements are more expressive. The masks are carved by local artisans and passed between generations, and only men from the community may become huacones. The tradition shows how Andean towns use dance to express justice, respect and continuity. Visitors are welcome to watch, but should give way to the huacones and follow local guidance.
