Chacana means “to bridge” and it is the name of a very recurrent and important symbol in the andean culture. It is a 4000-year-old design that can be found in various objects, clothing and buildings in the Andes. There have been several interpretations of this symbol among researchers and there is no total agreement on the meaning or use at that time. However, everyone agrees that this symbol was very important in the worldview of Andean cultures, understanding it as a religious and astronomical object.

Today this symbol continues to have a strong meaning in the worldview of the peoples in the andes. In fact, andean shamans mention that it can represent dualities, trilogies and tetralogies:

– Dualities: such as life and death, day and night, etc.

– Trilogies: such as the andean trilogy (Hanan Pacha, kay

Pacha and Uku Pacha), the three sacred animals (Condor,

puma and snake), the work system in the Inca empire (Mita, Minca and Ayni), etc.

– Tetralogies: such as the four cardinal points, the seasons of the year, the four “suyos” that divided the Inca empire

(Antisuyo, Collasuyo, Chinchaysuyo and Contisuyo), etc. The Chacana also is related to the Southern Cross constellation. On May 3rd, this constellation appears in its highest position in the southern hemisphere. In various communities throughout the Andes, this date has a special meaning and they celebrate it in different ways