Festival Tapati Rapa-Nui, Easter Island,Chile, 1 - February 15
Secluded Easter Island in the Pacific Ocean covered with legends and myths, the dream for many travelers and a mystery to many researchers. Easter Island (Rapa Nui) may be the most famous island in the
Pacific Ocean, inviting his stone sculptures, Maui dotting its landscape. In
February, the main festival is held here Islands - Tapati Rapa Nui, the
brightest and the most noisy.The celebration involved the islanders and the
Tahitians. Festival Tapati Rapa Nui simultaneously test of male power and
female grace, the celebration of local culture and hospitality.
Unlike many island festivals, Tapati Rapa Nui has always
been a celebration for locals and not a tourist attraction. In 1969, a few
years later after gaining some independence from Chile, born Semana de Rapa
Nui, as the summer (at this time in the southern hemisphere summer) festival
with singing, dancing and a small parade. Over the years, there have been
changes, including in the title, but Tapati Rapa Nui has always been a
celebration of Polynesian pride. Although tourists are welcome, it is not the
same thing as you can, for example, found in Hawaii, it's true celebration of
gratitude and respect for the culture of Rapa Nui.
The essence of Tapati a competition between two teams or
two halves of the city of Hanga Roa. Each party is headed by a woman, contender
for the crown of the Queen Tapati that she would be proud to wear for the next
year. Participants of the whole year preparing for Tapati, sew costumes, rehearsing
dance numbers.
Teams compete in local traditional sports, such as Rapa-Nui
Triathlon, which dressed in loincloths athletes must swim across the lake, then
take a reed raft and continue the waterway, and finally run, balancing barefoot
around the lake, with banana bunches on his shoulders.
Another popular competition Haka Pei, slide down the slope
of a volcano on sannyah made from the trunks of banana palms. Although it
sounds like a summer version of the winter sledding down the hills, it is an
extreme activity often leads to injury, it is better to leave it to the pros.
Other events include surfing, spearfishing and traditional body decoration.
And of course no Polynesian feast can do without dancing.
And the Rapa Nui people, young and experienced veterans in favor of his team,
swinging her hips in a fascinating movements. Finally, the two young women
competing for the crown, take the stage for a solo dances. Twang ukulele and
drums rhythm accompanied by masterful performance numbers.
On the last night of the festival points scored by both
teams counted and the winning Queen takes the stage to perform a dance of
victory. Beat drums, and the winners all together sing and laugh Queen that is
prescribed by Polynesian protocol inauguration.
Do not miss Tapati Rapa Nui
Parades in Polynesian style
Parades open and close the festival, both full of complex
shapes, scantily clad women and men, music and dancing. But the main course
after the election of the Queen.
Haka Pei - local bobsleigh
Perhaps the most popular and certainly the most dangerous
occupation. Do not miss it, take a place in the front row on the slope of the
volcano Maunga Pui and look desperate race.
Participate
Although traditionally participate in the festival only
local residents, guests can join in the dancing and parade. If you are fond of
dancing, to arrive a month before, and take part in rehearsals. To participate
in the parade to be included in one of the teams, ie make friends with someone
from a local!
Secrets of the Moai
You will not be able to visit the island and did not see
any of the 887 stone idols of the island. Take a tour that would know more
about them or put forward his theory of their origin.
You can reach the island only from Santiago de Chile and
Tahiti via airline Lan Airlines, which makes several flights a week from both
points. During the holidays flights are full, better perepodtverdit tickets a
few days before departure.
As for flights, hotels fill up fast these days. Stay with a
local family, the best way to immerse yourself in the local culture, and can be
to get permission to participate in parades and other events, allowing only
their own.
