Huachos
The name Huachos, according to oral stories from the town, comes from the Quechua word 'Wakcha,' which means orphaned, helpless, or abandoned. The town was named this way because, in its early years, many children were fatherless or orphaned as Spanish troops from the royalist army violated women while passing through to other towns. The locals referred to these children as 'wakchitos' when outsiders inquired about them. When speaking about the town, these outsiders called it the town of the 'wakchos,' which eventually evolved into the town of Huachos. This town has come to be called the 'Padlock Town' since the vast majority of its population migrated to the coast in search of a better future. The armed conflict in the 80s, lack of job opportunities, and poor government management were and still are determining factors causing entire families and many young people to leave the area, leaving the town with a few families and many empty houses. Elders still living in the area agree that over time, the town might disappear, as each year it's abandoned by its people and its authorities.
"Before, different bands would arrive with their harps and flutes to play 'huaynitos' or the paso doble; us, the young ones, used to dance with great enthusiasm during times of celebration. Now, things have changed quite a bit; everything changes. The bands now play a mix of 'huayno,' cumbia, salsa, and I don't know what other kinds of music, which we didn't use to hear around here. You don't see as many people in processions or at Mass anymore; you only see elders, who like me, won't be here in a few years. I wonder who will tend to the saints in our absence; that is my fear. These young people, children, or grandchildren of Huachos, come to get drunk and dance, but they ignore the town's customs and the main purpose of this celebration. They will leave because they have visited, they have drunk, they have danced, and the town will remain the same, abandoned."
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