KERMÉS: ORIGIN, GAMES AND TRADITIONS IN LATIN AMERICA - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

A kermés, quermés or kermesse is a popular open-air fair that has games, attractions, shows of all kinds and typical gastronomy, and which are usually held in schools, neighborhood clubs or churches.

Kermes are something very popular, where all people can go to have fun at a low price and they are commonly organized by different groups or associations in order to raise money for a specific cause.

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Some sometimes confuse the kermés with carnival, and the truth is that they have nothing to do with each other. The spirit of a kermés is that children and adults enjoy a recreational space for all ages as a family.

In it the whole family can spend the day. They have games for children, skills activities and gastronomy of all kinds. They are smaller than an amusement park and also more modest, so spending a day in them is extremely cheap.

For its realization and setting up, families usually take part, through schools, student centers or neighborhood clubs, and almost always arm themselves to raise funds for specific purposes, such as solidarity collections or group trips.

Origin of the term "kermés"

It could be traced to the emergence of kermes in Holland. In fact, the term comes from the Middle Dutch (local language) "kerkcmisse", made up of "kerkc" meaning "church" and "misse", "mass". What's more: in Nijmegen, the oldest city in the country, one of the most important festivals in Europe is held.

You will probably read how the word is written in different ways. In Spanish, the Royal Spanish Academy admits the term "kermés." Meanwhile, in other Spanish-speaking countries "quermés" is also written, but "kermesse" can also be written, mostly written like this in France.

We already know that their origin was mainly in northern Europe, and that they are linked to the Church. That is why they are also so popular in Latin America; After the colonization of the continent, these were key in the process of evangelization, attracting the communities to participate in the colonizing religious institutions.

What do you do in a kermes?

We already knew its history, now is the time to learn about the different games and the characteristics that make a visit to a kermes an ideal plan for the whole family.

The games

There are all kinds of them, some are more "basic" and do not require an important infrastructure, such as cannon shooting (cover photo), bagging race, "ta-te-ti", or "put the tail on pig".

But there are also others that involve greater scope, such as the "soapy stick", archery, "hammer game" or the "toad game." In fact, some very important fairs are also called kermés, which have machine games such as roller coasters, cups or the classic "bumper cars".

The artists

Among the art professionals who work there, a large number of true popular talents can be cited: magicians, clowns, globologists (those who form different objects only by inflating balloons), knife throwers, sword swallowers, cartoonists, "face-painters" (those who draw colorful doodles on the face) or tattooists, who generally use the gem to make them temporary.

The gastronomy

This is extremely varied and will depend a lot on the country or town where the kermes takes place, something that we will expand on later. However, there are some dishes or "cravings" that are typical of every kermés: snowflakes, cotton candy, popcorn or "cornflakes", caramel apples, "lollipops", hot dogs or "hot dogs" and hamburgers.

Nowadays these events are also attended by "food trucks". They are mobile restaurants that have a more sophisticated menu than a traditional food stall and, of course, with a somewhat higher price.

Those of Latin America

Argentina

Whether by tradition or necessity, the kermes in that part of the world are still in force. In Argentina, it is very common for school students to organize them to raise funds that will later be used for study trips or graduates.

Parents or school authorities also participate in its set-up, and it is very common for theater acts or musical numbers to be performed that will accompany the rest of the activities.

Among the latter, the most typical are folkloric dances, such as chacareras or samba, and although tango is a national dance, its dance is not usually common in these fairs.

Among the traditional dishes that cannot be missed in an Argentine kermés are the locro or lentil stew (both typical dishes in the winter season), choripán (chorizo ​​sandwiches), empanadas (photo), asado, or sweet foods such as cakes. fries or cupcakes.

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Mexico

In Mexico, the mechanism is similar, although of course the gastronomy varies a lot. Winter dishes such as pozole (similar to the Argentine stew) or tamales are served, but also enchiladas, tacos, quesadillas, burritos and other typical dishes of that country.

On the dance side, it will depend a lot on the area, since in Michoacán kermes we usually see shows of "dance of the old men", or in Veracruz, La Bamba. However, none of them can be without the typical Mexican mariachis.

Two other countries where kermes are very popular are Colombia and Peru.

Colombia

In Colombia, the musical groups of cumbia or vallenato are typical, while the most traditional dishes are arepas or chicken broths in winter.

In this country the "verbenas" are typical, which is a similar celebration originating in Spain, but without games and in much larger spaces, generally organized by local municipalities.

Peru

In the Andean country, for its part, it is common to see typical dances such as the Marinera, while at the culinary level the exquisite Peruvian gastronomy (nowadays in fashion throughout the world) has exponents such as antibuchos, picarones, cause and ceviche.

References

1. Nijmegen, The Netherlands (2018). Recovered from: kermisnijmegen.nl.
2. Verbenas of Spain. (2019). Recovered from: turismodecordoba.org
3. Kermés from Argentina. (2018). "Morfilandia", Tourism of Argentina. Recovered from: morfilandia.com
4. Michoacán Tourism Secretariat. (2018). Recovered from: mimichoacan.mx.
5. Our Lady of Carmen School. (2017). Carmelite Kermes. Recovered from: carmelitas.edu.pe.