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This Saturday, November 8, Nicoyanos woke up very early to celebrate the traditional Pica e’ Leña (Choping wood), activity that pays tribute to the patron saint of the canton, the Virgin of Guadalupe. The activity began at 4 am, although some spent the night awake. In the building name La Cofradía, known as the Virgin House, women handed out pozol (typical food made with corn), coffee, tortillas and bagels. After hundreds of faithful men had breakfast, they headed with axe in hand to the land where wood was waiting to be chopped.
With the Sun coming out behind them, men worked happily recalling the times of axe.
The Pica de leña is today held in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Originally born from the Chorotega indigenous people who once inhabited Nicoyans land.
Pilar Fajardo and 5 other women served the loggers breakfast from 4 o'clock in the morning.
Hundreds of faithful left their homes early to pay homage to the Virgin of Guadalupe and continue the tradition
By 5 in the morning women had served more than 100 dishes of the typical breakfast served every year, pozol with doughnuts and coffee.
A group of friends hang out during the dawn outside of La Cofradía in the Centre of Nicoya
A well sharpened axe for the chopping that lasted more than five hours
Luis Alberto Ramírez chopped firewood until the last carts were filled.
Over 70 wagons were filled with the wood that will be used to cook food on next year´s celebration
As of 7 am, cattle and horses from different parts of the country arrived from places like Cartago, Quiriman, Hondores, Juan Díaz, and San Jose.
Odeth Mora is one of the few women who were chopping and collecting firewood besides men
Antonio Navarro Nicoyan axe man
Gerardo Fonseca from Matina received 20 cows from his father 20 years ago and he has being participating in the Pica de leña since then
By 7 a.m. we could see over 20 full carts with wood.
The party was filled with chicheme (typical corn beverage), dancing and joy
Dancing with "La Chinita" marimba music.
Drinks are served in bowls made out of dry Jicaro tree seeds name "Huacales". Some are from 6 years ago.
Azucena Alemán serving in Huacales a traditional drink called Tiste, made from cacao, rice and sugar cane.
After loggers, cattle men and cowboys had lunch, the public could also enjoy the food prepared by the women of La Cofradía
Cattle men leaving the finca where the wood was chopped
Around 70 cattle men participated in the parade that started at 11 am.
Carts full of wood and even with some people too, paraded in the street of the colonial city.
Faithful ask for the blessing of the Priest Valerio Óscar in front of the colonial church in Nicoya.
The party continued outside of La Cofradía while the wood is unloaded.
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