Cane with rue: why it is drunk on August 1st and how is the celebration of Pachamama

Drinking cane with rue on the first day of August is a practice that continues to gain followers and if you visit Argentina, you will notice that it is a deeply rooted custom. Do you dare to practice this ritual linked to the celebration of Pachamama?

Drinking cane with rue is recommended on the first day of August to ward off evil spirits and attract good fortune.

They say that this custom brings good health and good luck, while it drives away envy and evils. Seven sips, three swallows, only one but long, a whole glass, always on an empty stomach. But where does all this come from and what does it mean?

Why is cane with rue drunk on the first day of August?

This tradition, rooted in the north and Litoral area of Argentina (especially in Misiones and Corrientes, in the north east), has spread throughout the country. It is an ancient custom of the native peoples of America who found in rue multiple medicinal properties to fight against parasites and gastrointestinal discomfort. In addition, they also used it to soothe the burning and irritation feeling caused by insect and vermin bites.

In August, heavy rains and cold weather caused many deaths in the population, as well as in livestock. That’s why native peoples created this natural remedy, mixing sugarcane with rue, to overcome these problems.

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Recipe to prepare cane with rue

Ingredients

●       One bottle of cane (cane schnapps)

●    Male rue (common rue, which can be recognized by its large leaves)

Preparation

1.           Rue harvesting: ideally, rue should be harvested during the month of July so that it is ready to be taken on August 1^st.

2.           Preparing the jar: use a clean and dry glass jar. Make sure it has a lid.

3.           Add the rue: fill a third of the jar with some twigs and rue leaves. It is important not to put too many, since the taste of rue is very strong.

4.           Add the cane: fill the jar with cane (cane schnapps), completely covering the rue leaves.

5.           Maceration: close the jar tightly and store it in a cool and dark place. Let it soak for at least a week. The longer, the better the infusion.

Steps to take cane with rue

1. Serve some cane with rue in a small glass on August 1^st, when you wake up and before consuming any food.
2. It is recommended to take seven sips, three swallows or a whole glass, depending on the local custom. It should always be taken on an empty stomach, before breakfast.
3. As you drink, think about wishes for health and protection for the rest of the year.
4. If you forgot to take it on August 1^st, you can still do it until the 15^th of the same month.

Additional tips

●    Take it moderately: cane with rue is strong, so drink it sparingly.

●    Make sure you use common rue: avoid confusing it with other varieties of rue that may be toxic.

●    Share the tradition: invite your family and friends to join the ritual. It is an excellent opportunity to share and keep a cultural tradition alive.

The evolution of cane with rue

Initially, liqueurs made with chañar, patay, prickly pear or carob were used, to which medicinal herbs were then added. With the arrival of Europeans, the ingredients have evolved into the current recipe.

The introduction of cane cultivation for sugar manufacturing during the Spanish colonization also brought the production of cane schnapps. Rue, which arrived in America, was quickly valued for its medicinal properties.

This combination of plant and drink was adopted by the Guarani, who were capable of discovering its properties and virtues. Thus, the popular belief that considers cane with rue as an incantation against envy and bad luck was born. This brew is consumed "to scare away the evils of winter."

Although tradition suggests drinking it on the first of August, those who forget or cannot do so on that day have the chance to do it by the 15^th of August to comply with the ritual. Pachamama Day is celebrated on August 1^st in Argentina and several Latin American countries. It is a festival of gratitude celebrated in different ways depending on the region. One of the most popular rites, of course, is to drink cane with rue.



Cheers, and happy day, Mother Earth!

Pachamama: much more than a celebration of the Earth

August 1^st is a date of great importance for Andean culture, since it celebrates Pachamama Day, Mother Earth Day. This term comes from Quechua: Pacha means "world" or "earth", and mama, "mother".

In the north of Argentina, this celebration is lived with intensity. It is commemorated throughout the month of August but  it is the first day of the month when the offering ceremony to Mother Earth is held, to thank her for everything she has given.

Horacio Delfín Galán, a descendant of the Kolla people and resident of Tilcara, Jujuy, is a profound connoisseur of this tradition. He explains that Pachamama is a ceremony, a ritual, a festival that is between two and three thousand years old, since the native peoples began to practice agriculture.

The deep meaning of Pachamama

"Pachamama symbolizes the beginning of fallow," explains Galán. At this time of winter, canals are cleaned, plants are pruned, and the land is prepared for replanting. On August 1st, Pachamama is thanked for everything she has granted.

Read more: National Pachamama Festival

Pachamama is part of the agro-pastoral cycle of the year, which in the Andean world is divided into dry season and wet season. In the dry season, Pachamama is celebrated, by thanking her for the harvest in the previous summer and offering food, incense and traditional drinks such as yerbeado, chicha and api.

Transformation and resignification

Over time, the celebration of Pachamama has undergone several transformations. In one moment, these rituals were made invisible and forbidden, while Catholic religion and Western knowledge were imposed. However, the declaration of the Quebrada de Humahuaca as a World Heritage Site revitalized the celebration and made it visible.

Today, Pachamama is celebrated by both local communities and tourists. Although it has taken on a commercial tone in some areas, in many families it’s still an intimate and sacred ritual.

Preparations for August 1st

The preparation for August 1^st includes the harvest of corn and its processing into flour to prepare tamales, as well as the preparation of charqui and the collection of beans, potatoes and quinoa. The food offered to Pachamama is always boiled, as a sign of respect and gratitude.

The tradition of drinking cane with rue and the celebration of Pachamama on August 1st are deep and significant cultural manifestations in Argentina and other Andean countries. These rituals not only connect people to their roots and their environment, but also invite reflection on the value of nature and the importance of preserving it.

Honoring Mother Earth is an act of gratitude that is lasting in time. Happy Pachamama Day!