Social Studies

Form 2

UNIT 3:
Mapuche worldview and traditions.
Worldview

The Word
“Mapuche” means
“people of the
Earth”.
Worldview

They believe in the

Spirit of Nature.

“Ñuke Mapu”
“Mother Earth”
“Madre Tierra”
Traditions
The Machi is the person
who communicates with
this spirit.

He or she, leads the

ceremonies praying and
playing the kultrun.
kultrun
The “kultrun” is a
musical instrument
similar to a drum.

It represents the
Mapuche
Wolrdview.
ceremonies
The “machitun” is a
ceremony performed to
expel the evil spirits
and cure disease.
ceremonies
The “nguillatun” is a
celebration in which
the community dances
and plays musical
instruments.

They pray for Good

weather and harvest.
ceremonies

Some musical
instruments are:
ceremonies
The “We Tripantu” is the
mapuche New Year
celebration.

“We Tripantu” means

“welcome of the new sun”.
We Tripantu
 Winter solstice: June 24th.

It is the shortest day and the It is the end of the harvesting

largest night of the year. period and the beginning of the
sowing cycle.
We Tripantu
To celebrate We Tripantu, mapuche people get together to
eat, drink, dance, sing and tell stories.
THINK ABOUT
IT…
Why are the machitun,
nguillatun and We
Tripantu important for
the mapuche people?

 These ceremonies
represent their culture
and traditions.
 Mapuche culture.

- Mapuche means “people of the earth”.

- They believe in the spirit of nature: Ñuke Mapu.

- The Machi is the person who leads the spiritual

ceremonies.

- They celebrate machitun, nguillatun and We Tripantu.