Harvest Fast Day: happy apthapi!
Looking for fundraising event ideas for Harvest Fast Day? Nikki Evans is CAFOD’s programme officer for Bolivia, and in this blog describes the Bolivian tradition of holding shared community picnics.
In Bolivia, when Andean communities or families come together to share the food together, this is called an apthapi (pronounced “ap-tappy”). The tradition of apthapi was born in the countryside in the Andes in Bolivia where people brought the food they had produced on their land and from their animals during the time of year when the food was in season.
At an apthapi organised by CAFOD partners, the women of the community arrive with a large brightly-coloured shawl filled with food to share. There are always potatoes, chuño (freeze dried black potatoes) and broad beans. Usually people bring a salsa with tomatoes and onions to enjoy with the food. Sometimes families have made cheese, boiled some eggs or cooked some fish if they live near Lake Titicaca – it depends on the food available.
Find resources to organise a Harvest Fast Day event in your parish.
Each shawl is put on the ground and everyone sits around digging into the feast in front on them using their fingers. Many people bring small plastic bags so that they can take leftovers home.
Families are always keen to feed us when we visit projects but this means they often share their scarce resources. When I travel to the countryside to meet families during monitoring trips for CAFOD, I ask partners to arrange with families that we will share an apthapi so that I can also bring food to share with the families.
Find fundraising tools and tips to organise an apthapi with children and young people
It’s a privilege for me to be able to share food with the families which I do in the name of CAFOD supporters. Families are always curious and interested to learn more about the people that give to CAFOD and make these projects possible.
Watch Nikki’s message of thanks from Bolvia
This Harvest Fast Day we’re inviting you to hold an apthapi in your community. Tag @CAFOD in your pictures, and find more resources for your event.
Donate to the Harvest appeal today