Peru’s annual bare-knuckle boxing tournament settles the year’s arguments

It’s Christmas and New Year holidays time, and that means it’s time for the traditional airing of grievances and feats of strength. No, not Festivus, it’s the annual violence event known as Takanakuy. Thousands of spectators and angry combatants descend on Cuzco, Peru to settle scores the old-fashioned way – by beating each other to a festive pile of goo. The festival has taken on a life beyond hitting, however, with many dressing in bright costumes and dancing to music before bashing each other’s skulls in.

The organizers certainly seem to think it’s good for community spirit. ‘Who could not accept these types of events that are so healthy, so unifying, and so strong, as we are demonstrating, as we are showing in a very orderly manner,’ said organizer Lizandro Ampuero. And presumably if you disagree then you’ll have to do so in the ring.

Incidentally, Takanakuy comes from taka, which means ‘hitting with fists’ and nakuy, which means ‘mutually.’ Unfortunately, ‘mutual fisting’ doesn’t quite have the same meaning in English, so we’ll refrain from translating it.

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