What do you know about the strangest tribes of the Amazon?

"Ticuna"

 Celebrations among the Ticuna Tribes:

Celebrations are an important part of life in the Ticuna tribe, ranging from religious to social rituals that reflect their deep connection with nature and spirits. Here are some details about their main celebrations:

1. Puberty Celebrations for Girls:

   - When a girl reaches puberty, she is secluded for a long period in a special hut, where she is taught life skills such as weaving, caregiving, and learning the community's traditions. At the end of this period, she is celebrated with traditional dances and music. These rituals are seen as a sign of her maturity and readiness for her role in society.

2. Puberty Celebrations for Boys:

   - Young men who reach puberty undergo similar rites that include physical trials like endurance tests and body modifications. They are also trained in hunting and fighting skills. These rites are usually concluded with a festival that reflects their strength and resilience.

3. Music and Dance Celebrations:

   - Traditional dances and music are an integral part of the Ticuna tribe’s social and religious celebrations. Percussion instruments like drums, bells, and cymbals are used, enhancing the collective spirit and representing their connection with the spirits. The dances often reflect specific events such as harvests or spiritual connections with ancestors.

4. "End of the World" Festival:

   - As mentioned earlier, the Ticuna celebrate an "End of the World" festival every few years, marking the completion of a long cycle in their cosmology. This event involves purification rituals, music celebrations, and offerings, symbolizing the cleansing of the past and preparing for a new cycle.

Food among the Ticuna Tribes:

The food of the Ticuna tribe is heavily influenced by the natural resources of the Amazon rainforest. Their diet is simple yet diverse, combining plant and animal ingredients:

1. Fish:

   - Fish is a staple in the Ticuna diet, as they rely on local rivers and water bodies to fish for species such as trout, flatfish, and tawny fish. Fish is often a main dish, either cooked over fire or dried for preservation.

2. Fruits:

   - Fresh fruits from the Amazon rainforest form a large part of their diet. Among the fruits they consume are bananas, pineapples, papayas, and mangoes, along with wild fruits like cacao and caimita (a type of berry), which are used to prepare juices or eaten fresh.

3. Wild Meats:

   - The Ticuna hunt wild animals such as monkeys, rabbits, and birds. They use traps or traditional hunting methods with bows and arrows. Meat is typically cooked by roasting or in an underground pit with plants.

4. Corn and Starchy Foods:

   - Corn is one of the primary crops grown by the Ticuna, and is used to make various foods like flatbread or porridge. In addition to corn, they also grow yams (cassava), a starchy root that serves as an important source of carbohydrates in their daily meals. Yams are prepared in several ways, including cooking or grinding them into a flour for food.

5. Fermented Foods:

   - The Ticuna sometimes use fermentation in preparing certain foods and beverages. For example, they ferment cacao to make a traditional drink called choco, which is a rich, sacred drink often associated with ceremonial uses.

6. Plant-Based Foods:

   - Along with fruits, the Ticuna also consume a variety of wild plants, such as herbs, sisal, and algae, which are gathered from the surrounding forest.

Food plays a crucial role in the daily life of the Ticuna, reflecting their strong connection to the natural environment, while their celebrations are a mixture of spiritual and communal practices that reinforce their social bonds.