The tree is eight meters high with 55 macanas of different colors and motifs.
Gualaceo, Azuay
In the well-known Azuayo Garden, Christmas is a festive theme, but also of cultural identity. One of its most recognized products is the macana (a shawl woven with an ancient technique known as iKat).
For this self-love, this year authorities and artisans came together to place a giant tree covered with these garments in the central park.
The location of this adornment occurs in a special context, the designation of Gualaceo as the World City of Crafts by the World Crafts Council (WCC) and with the endorsement of Unesco, a fact that occurred the morning and afternoon of Friday December 17th. Gualaceo is the eighth city to receive this designation in all of South America.
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Gualaceo is a canton located in the eastern part of Azuay nationally recognized for being producers of food, beverages, footwear and of course, woven crafts.
Eduardo Andrade, municipal director of Economic Development, said that based on that identity, together with several local weavers, they decided to cover the eight-meter-high tree with 55 macanas of different colors and motifs. Each one is 1.80 meters long by 70 centimeters wide.
Although the context of this initiative is for Advent, Andrade affirmed that the final objective is to reinforce the identity of the canton, but also to generate the transmission of knowledge for the new generations, accompanied by training to promote its commercialization within and outside of Ecuador.
The hands that joined this Christmas project were more than 30, each one contributing in the different stages of the making that includes the natural dyeing of the fabrics, the design of the fabric, the details. Thus, during the light of day these finishes are clearly observed, but at night they are embellished with the accompanying decorative lights.
Patricia Giménez arrived last Friday night with her mother and children to admire this tree, because they told her that it was very striking. After taking the souvenir photos, she said that the experience was very pleasant.
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Such has been the interest of the people in the tree that, according to Mayor Gustavo Vera, they have called him from different countries and provinces asking how they did it, so he proudly stated that thanks to the skill of his people, here is “the best Christmas tree in the world ”.
A next step, Andrade explained, will be to promote the macana route so that tourists know all the workshops that still maintain this activity. The indigenous Christmas tree will be available until January 5, 2022. (I)
Paul is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment and general news. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established herself as a respected voice in the industry.
