Fiesta del Espíritu

Fiesta del Espíritu – celebration of spirits, miners, and Mother Earth

Every year in early June, immediately after Pentecost and Corpus Christi, mining communities in Bolivia — especially around Potosí — celebrate Fiesta del Espíritu, one of the most powerful and spiritually charged rituals of the Andean tradition.

This unique celebration honors Pachamama – Mother Earth—asking for her protection and blessings over the mines and their mineral abundance — the lifeblood of many Bolivian families.

The ritual centers around a llama sacrifice. Its blood is poured at the mine’s entrance as a sacred offering, meant to bless and purify the space. The meat is later shared in a communal meal, accompanied by drinking, smoking, and storytelling — all acts of gratitude, unity, and deep spiritual connection to the earth.

Fiesta del Espíritu is more than tradition — it's a vivid reminder that, in some places, the rhythms of life and nature are still deeply intertwined. In a world that often forgets its roots, this ceremony reflects an enduring bond with the land and the sacred.

Jan Skwara

Jan Skwara (born 1981) is a Polish photographer, traveler, and educator, specializing in documentary, historical, travel, portrait, and street photography.

Known for both traditional and digital techniques, he has won numerous prestigious photography competitions and was awarded the 2025 Personality of the Year in Culture in Poland. He also holds a Guinness World Record (2024) for the highest ambrotype (wet collodion) taken on Mount Kilimanjaro (5895 m above sea level).

Skwara is the co-owner of the travel agency "Pakuj plecak". He is the main specialist for photographic expeditions, organizing and leading educational photography trips worldwide.