Saqra (

Quechua Quechua may refer to: *Quechua people, several indigenous ethnic groups in South America, especially in Peru *Quechuan languages, a Native South American language family spoken primarily in the Andes, derived from a common ancestral language **So ...

for malignant, pernicious, bad, bad tempered, wicked / restless / devil, a

synonym A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are all ...

of ''

supay In the Quechua, Aymara, and Inca mythologies, Supay was both the god of death and ruler of the ''Ukhu Pacha'', the Incan underworld, as well as a race of demons. Supay is associated with miners' rituals. With the Spanish colonization of the Ameri ...

;'' but, unlike Supay, a Saqra entity just plays innocent tricks. Mostly it is represented with animal figures.) is a traditional dance in the highlands of the

Cusco Region Cusco, also spelled Cuzco (; qu, Qusqu suyu ), is a department and region in Peru and is the fourth largest department in the country, after Madre de Dios, Ucayali, and Loreto. It borders the departments of Ucayali on the north; Madre de D ...

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...

. The dancers dress as animal figures. This traditional dance has its origins in the late 19th century in the province of Paucartambo,

Cusco Cusco, often spelled Cuzco (; qu, Qusqu ()), is a city in Southeastern Peru near the Urubamba Valley of the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cusco Region and of the Cusco Province. The city is the list of cities in Peru, seventh m ...

and was inspired by the sacred paintings of the so called “Mamacha Carmen” also known as the "

Virgen del Carmen Our Lady of Mount Carmel, or Virgin of Carmel, is the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary in her role as patroness of the Carmelite Order, particularly within the Catholic Church. The first Carmelites were Christian hermits living on Mount Car ...

". Saqra means roguery, restlessness, agility or mischief in English. It is performed at feasts in honor of

patron saint A patron saint, patroness saint, patron hallow or heavenly protector is a saint who in Catholicism, Anglicanism, or Eastern Orthodoxy is regarded as the heavenly advocate of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or perso ...

s such as '' Mamacha Carmen'' in

Paucartambo Paucartambo may refer to: * Paucartambo Province, Cusco region * Paucartambo District, Paucartambo Paucartambo (from Quechua: Pawqar Tampu, meaning "colored '' tambo''") is one of six districts of the Paucartambo Province in Peru. Geography On ...

and ''Virgen del Rosario de Huallhua'' in the

San Salvador District San Salvador District is one of eight Districts of Peru, districts of the province Calca Province, Calca in Peru. Geography One of the highest peaks of the district is Pachatusan at . Other mountains are listed below: Ethnic groups The peop ...

of the

Calca Province Calca may refer to: *Calca Peninsula, a peninsula in South Australia * Calca Province, one of thirteen provinces in the Cusco Region of Peru * Calca District, one of the eight districts in the Calca Province * Calca, Peru, capital of the Calca Dist ...

References

{{Reflist Peruvian dances Native American dances Cusco Region

See also

References