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Arriero
An arriero is a person who works transporting merchandises, such as coffee, maize, cork or wheat) with the help of pack animals. At south america, arriero is the denomination of the people who, in the absence of good roads that could permit the use of wheeled vehicles, transported all sort of items through the paisa region (Antioquia and the Colombian Coffee-Growers Axis) with their mules during the XVIII century to the present time.
Juan Valdez, the representative character of the Federacion Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia, is the typical depiction of an arriero carrying coffee sacks with this mule.
Origin
The spanish word arriero is derived from the verb arrear that means to urge on, or to stimule the cattle or other animals to walk. The verb itself is derived of 'arre', which is the call used to cry to the animals with this puprose.
Outfit
The typical arriero outfit is composed of:
Alpargatas: Sandals, made of fique (natural fiber obtained of furcraea plants]] and leather.
Poncho: Rectangular piece of fabric, usually white with linear embroided, that is used to protect the face and neck from the cold weather.
Ruana: Square wool garment, larger than the poncho, with a hole in the middle for the head. It covers the torso.
Tapapinche: Leather apron.
Straw Hat (sombrero aguadeno)
Machete
Carriel: Leather bag traditionally made of nutria leather . It is used to carry personal goods and money. It has become an element of the colombian fashion.
See also
Culture of Colombia
References and sources
http://biblioteca-virtual-antioquia.udea.edu.co/pdf/21/21_630254401.pdf
http://www.calarca.net/arrieria.html
http://www.raicespaisas.org/1877_a_1898.htm
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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Arriero
