Villages of Guarenas and Guatire dressed up to celebrate the Parranda de San Pedro

Published at: 30/06/2025 08:45 AM

This Sunday, June 29, the towns of Guatire and Guarenas, in the state of Miranda, dressed up to celebrate the Parranda de San Pedro, an event that represents the cultural identity rooted in faith and tradition that has been honored as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) since December 5, 2013.

At the Parranda de San Pedro, UNESCO highlighted the essential values that endure over time and which are consolidated as a space for community encounter that reinforces social ties and celebrates Venezuelan historical memory. It's a living legacy, an authentic expression that connects communities to their Afro-descendant past.

According to oral tradition, the origin of this demonstration dates back to colonial times, with a strong influence of Afro-descendant communities that worked on cacao farms in the region. The Parranda de San Pedro is an expression of religious syncretism, where Catholic elements are mixed with African beliefs and rituals.

The story goes that a slave named María Ignacia, desperate because of the serious illness of her daughter, Rosa Ignacia, asked Saint Peter the Apostle for her health, and promised that in return she would go out dancing and singing every June 29, the day of Saint Peter's saint's day. The miracle happened, but the enslaved woman became ill and, before dying, she asked her husband, José Eusebio, to continue with his promise.

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