Calarcá, Quindío, ColombiaCalarcá, Quindío, Colombia

YIPAO 2008YIPAO 2008

Parade and ContestParade and Contest

YIPAO 2008 YIPAO 2008 Parade and ContestParade and Contest

““Yipao” is a Colombian tradition and transportation Yipao” is a Colombian tradition and transportation medium identified with the coffee culture. medium identified with the coffee culture.

The word “yipao” is not in the Spanish dictionary of the The word “yipao” is not in the Spanish dictionary of the Real Academia Española; it is a barbarism derived from ; it is a barbarism derived from the the ““Willys jeep”, a specific type of vehicle, which is Willys jeep”, a specific type of vehicle, which is loaded in an exaggerated way.loaded in an exaggerated way.

In the Colombian coffee growing regions it is seen all the In the Colombian coffee growing regions it is seen all the time; “yipaos” are jeeps loaded full of coffee or other time; “yipaos” are jeeps loaded full of coffee or other products, or of agricultural workers, or of other materials.products, or of agricultural workers, or of other materials.

These jeeps are spectacular; everything looks like it’s These jeeps are spectacular; everything looks like it’s going to fall off, but the Colombians who load them are going to fall off, but the Colombians who load them are real artists at arranging the loads.real artists at arranging the loads.

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The Willys jeep is a general purpose vehicle, The Willys jeep is a general purpose vehicle, manufactured in the United States, for use in war. manufactured in the United States, for use in war.

At the end of WWII and the Korean War, the U.S. was At the end of WWII and the Korean War, the U.S. was flooded with these vehicles and began selling them to flooded with these vehicles and began selling them to Third World countries. Third World countries.

Willys jeeps are light, made for crossing unpaved fields, Willys jeeps are light, made for crossing unpaved fields, climbing rocky mountains, crossing desert dunes, climbing rocky mountains, crossing desert dunes, jungles and marshes. jungles and marshes.

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Colombian peasants began using the word “yipao” Colombian peasants began using the word “yipao” to describe a load of a product for sale:to describe a load of a product for sale:

““I have a ‘yipao’ of bananas I just brought from I have a ‘yipao’ of bananas I just brought from

my farm.” my farm.” ““I’ll buy a ‘yipao’ of coffee from Quindio to take to I’ll buy a ‘yipao’ of coffee from Quindio to take to

Bogota”.Bogota”. “ “Bring me a ‘yipao’ of workers to pick coffee.”Bring me a ‘yipao’ of workers to pick coffee.”

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The Willys jeeps have been used for anything and The Willys jeeps have been used for anything and everything, but one of the most recurring jobs is moving everything, but one of the most recurring jobs is moving peasant families’ belongings (“corotos”): the so-called peasant families’ belongings (“corotos”): the so-called “coroteo.” “coroteo.”

Everything typically found in a coffee farm fits in a Willys Everything typically found in a coffee farm fits in a Willys jeep: sewing machine, beds, matresses, living room jeep: sewing machine, beds, matresses, living room furniture, dining room benches, blankets, clothes, rocking furniture, dining room benches, blankets, clothes, rocking chair, pots, pans, planters, chicken cages, lamps, toilet, chair, pots, pans, planters, chicken cages, lamps, toilet, hogs, dogs, cats, pictures of the grandparents, hogs, dogs, cats, pictures of the grandparents, chamberpot, pictures of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the chamberpot, pictures of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Divine Child…everything found around the farm is loaded Divine Child…everything found around the farm is loaded onto the jeep, including the couple and their children. onto the jeep, including the couple and their children.

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The firs Willys jeep driver in Quindio (Colombia) was The firs Willys jeep driver in Quindio (Colombia) was Mario Jaramillo Arango. When he was asked, “How Mario Jaramillo Arango. When he was asked, “How many men fit in a jeep?” his answer was, “As many as many men fit in a jeep?” his answer was, “As many as can place their big toe on the floor of the vehicle.” can place their big toe on the floor of the vehicle.”

Nowadays, this “yipao” tradition is intact. In spite of Nowadays, this “yipao” tradition is intact. In spite of more modern vehicles, you can see these jeeps in every more modern vehicles, you can see these jeeps in every town in Quindio, proudly carrying heavy loads of town in Quindio, proudly carrying heavy loads of bananas, coffee or people up and down the rural roads.bananas, coffee or people up and down the rural roads.

This is one of the most authentic expressions of This is one of the most authentic expressions of Colombian folklore. Colombian folklore.

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