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The narrative shared through Etnia Nativa emphasizes the importance of reclaiming and recognizing the island’s cultural roots and heritage, which have often been overshadowed by colonial history. The platform actively engages in promoting the value of rediscovering native traditions, history and identity.During this episode we share two important connections to ancient agriculture.
The connection between agriculture, astronomy, and the solstices lies in how astronomical knowledge of the Earth’s cycles helped early societies predict seasonal changes, plan agricultural activities, and structure their calendars and rituals around these key points of the year, being deeply interconnected, especially in the context of how ancient societies understood the cycles of the Earth and the seasons.
These three areas are well related since agriculture is all about growing crops, which requires understanding the best times to plant and harvest. These times are often influenced by the seasons, which are in turn determined by the Earth’s orbit around the Sun.
Farming practices have historically been tied to celestial events, because these events signal the changing of the seasons.
Meanwhile, astronomy helps us understand the movement of the Earth in relation to the Sun, the Moon, and other celestial bodies.
Since ancient times, farmers and cultures have relied on observations of the stars, sun, and moon to guide agricultural and many other practices. The Earth’s tilt on its axis (about 23.5 degrees) causes the Sun to appear at different positions in the sky throughout the year, creating the seasonal cycle.
Astronomical knowledge allowed early civilizations to observe and determine the optimal planting and harvest times by cataloging the Sun’s path, the positions of certain stars, and, most importantly, the solstices.
The solstices are key astronomical events that mark the turning points in the Earth’s orbit. The summer Solstice occurs around June 21st, when the North Pole is tilted closest to the Sun, and it marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and, in many cultures, it was a time of celebrating abundance.
The Winter Solstice around December 21st is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere (and the longest in the Southern Hemisphere). It marks the beginning of winter but also signals the point when the days start getting longer again—an important event for early societies as it suggests the return of warmth and the eventual coming of spring.
The solstices often indicate seasonal shifts in the environment, signaling to agricultural societies when to begin planting (spring) or when to prepare for harvest (fall). For example, the winter solstice might have marked a time when people knew the days would get longer, allowing them to plan their spring planting.
Ancient agricultural societies relied heavily on the lunar and solar cycles, which helped them, develop early calendars. For example, the Mayans, Egyptians, and our Caquetian culture, for example, developed their own sky calendars based on the positions of the Sun, Moon, and stars, knowledge that was transmitted from generation to generation. This was not only for agricultural purposes but also for sea traveling, hunting, and fishing.
Many agricultural societies had festivals and rituals tied to the solstices, often to ensure the favor of nature spirits resulting in a successful harvest or to mark important moments in the agricultural cycle. For example, cultures like the ancient Egyptians celebrated the summer solstice in relation to the rising of the star Sirius, which signaled the start of the Nile’s flood season—a critical time for agriculture in Egypt. Native Americans followed the movement of planet Venus.
The solstices helped farmers know when to expect the first rains or the end of the rainy season, guiding them to plant crops at the most beneficial times. On Aruba, we celebrated “Dera Gai”, time for the burying of the hen, marking the end of the island harvesting season and the burning of the dry corn stacks(see episode 158 “Aruban roots”). The seasonal changes also play a significant role in animal husbandry and migration patterns and especially to determine the arrival of sea turtles that come to lay their eggs on our beaches.
If you enjoyed reading our stories and are interested in learning more regarding the true identity, we recommend you to book a visit to Etnia Nativa—the only “living museum of its kind in the Caribbean”—a fascinating choice, a trend setter since 1994 and co-founder of Aruba National Park, Archaeological Museum Aruba and Artisan Foundation among others. Etnia Nativa shares valuable knowledge and connects you to the ancient island’s spirit and soul.
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