Paccha

Paccha is a town and parish in Cuenca Canton, Azuay Province, Ecuador. The parish covers an area of 25.6 km² and according to the 2001 Ecuadorian census it had a population total of 5,311.OriginsFounded "Parish Saint Francis of Paccha", on May 12, 1582 is one of the oldest parishes that make the City of Cuenca. Conformed by 20 villages (caserios) the parish is located 10 km from the center of the city of Cuenca. Some villages are relative close to the center of the city, Little Monay Village being the closest about 4 km away from the center of the city.The name and meaning of Paccha could be interpreted and sourced in two ways both originating from the Pre-Colonial period or even before the invasion and conquering by the Inca Empire. One possible meaning lies in the actual fact that in the native language of the region, including the Inca Empire the Quechua meaning for Paccha (Pachamama) is our Mother Earth. Although for the Inca’s the Pachamama was also a Goddess similar to the goddess Demeter in the Greek Mythology. Another possible historical meaning lies in the fact that Paccha was also the name of the Princess Paccha a princess from the northern lands, who married the Inca Emperor Huayna Capac in order to stop the conflict in this case the invasion of the Inca empire. Once the Inca’s had conquered the land that now makes Ecuador, they fostered the last Inca Emperor Atahualpa.Cultural HistoryWhile there is no official records, nor any kind of research on the cultural value of Paccha. Actually this Parish holds a lot of history and many historical sites including ancient ruins and vocal folklore in form of legends that hardly survived the pass of time. Also Paccha is one of the few Parishes of the City of Cuenca that traditionally makes the Panama Hats know locally as "Sombrero de Paja Toquilla"(straw hats) plus many other traditional goods. The actual historical development of this Parish is unfortunately lost to the past of time, the little know history exist only as tales of the past told by the older generations. Yet the existence of certain objects, edification, places and local vocal folklore tells the abundant history of this Parish. Among the most prominent are the following.