For example, many referenced popular crops, such as panela, coffee, or corn. They practiced the dances extensively and performed them during the festival. I included a video of the 10th graders dance in my "Media" folder.
This tradition is important for the community by providing a set time for everyone to come together. By having a celebration in which everyone can participate the community is bound together and shares this experience. It’s also simply a fun time to let loose. The festiva's focus on panela also gives an important way to celebrate traditions and the town’s culture. This is especially evident in how kids are involved in the festival. It’s a way for younger generations to learn more about the town’s past and cultural traditions. There is a lot of concern that these traditions are being lost in the younger generations, as many young adults have chosen move away and no longer work in the traditional farming industry. The festival represents a way for these traditions to stay alive.
The festival is connected to the environment, as the festival celebrates the tradition of farming panela. Panela is the number one crop grown in San José, and it is very connected to the town’s culture. Panela can only be grown in warmer climates, and the weather is very connected to the success of crops, so the environment is very connected to this tradition.
