In the small town of Purísima, Córdoba, a peculiar tradition has been kept alive for almost 200 years: ‘La Chua’. This practice consists of punishing couples who reconcile after a separation by filling their house with garbage. The inhabitants of the municipality organize quickly to carry out this custom that mixes bullying and tradition.
“La Chúa must have four factors: first, the attendance of the people; second, that the decree is read well prepared and substantial; third, that it has good garbage and fourth, the main thing, that the device that is also called La Chúa, that is, the snail,” Leonel Arrieta, one of the main promoters of this ancient custom, explained to Los Informantes.
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The noise produced when blowing a snail is the sound that has summoned this tradition for two centuries. “The Chúa was already being used, because it is an aerophone instrument that was used to report something new,” Pedro Vicente Ávila, a local researcher, told the news agency.
On any given Tuesday night, around 11:30 pm, Hundreds of people gathered in a municipal park, armed with logs, branches and garbage bags. No one knew for sure where La Chúa would take place, but when the promoter revealed the home of the chosen couple, everyone started running. Upon arrival, they threw garbage and finally the decree was read that detailed how the couple’s breakup and reconciliation was.
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However, on this occasion, the house was empty, although the townspeople never knew it. The rumor that La Chúa would take place that night caused the couple to flee a few hours before.
“That is what La Chúa means, it is very strong bullying, but I think it has never been seen anywhere in the world. It is clearly bullying in a joking and happy way,” said César Carlos Casarrubia, mayor of the municipality of Purísima.
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The question that remains when knowing La Chúa is whether it is a tradition, bullying, or both. The truth is that this strange and unique custom will continue to be carried out in this small town in Córdoba.
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