Let's Talk Limpias

If you don’t know what a limpia is, you’re not alone. I only heard of them for the first time last year, when my friend joked that she needed one. I understood that limpia means “clean” but I didn’t really understand. Our third friend and I looked blankly at her, until she said, “You know, with the huevos?” And she waved her hand around in the air as if she had a huevo (egg) in it. We died laughing. (I came back to life just to write this post.)

So, as far as I knew, it was a Mexican thing or perhaps specific to El Paso. Or maybe specific to Jessica’s family. ;) But here in Cuenca, I saw a sign for limpias. And then another sign, and another. Naturally I took a picture and sent it to my friends, and we all had a good laugh. Ohmygod, they’re here, too!

One stop shopping for all your witch doctor needs.

I shouldn’t be surprised, as religion and superstition go hand in hand in Latin culture. (I love it when my BFF’s mom lights santos candles for me. It makes me feel loved.) Still, seeing it advertised was a whole new level of entertainment for me.

BUT fast forward to yesterday, and I hit peak entertainment level. We were taking a sort of guided walking tour as the last day of our Spanish lessons. Our first stop was a big mercado, and our guide explained that there would be ladies doing limpias there. They perform them on Tuesdays and Fridays, so it was a great chance to check it out. Folks were lined up, waiting their turns. I couldn’t take the grin off my face. Story watched in fascination and maybe horror. “They’re just whacking them with kale! Oh no, is she going to whack that baby?”

This lady totally thought it was as funny as I did. She was cracking up through her whole limpia.

Then Sagan asked, “Should I get one for my back?” Hell yes! I love having a kid who’s game to try whatever bizarre thing is offered to him. We paid the $3 for a limpia. First, she showed him the hierbas (herbs) and let him smell them. Then she whacked him with them and rubbed them all over him. Next was the huevo, which was rubbed all over him, including under his shirt, front and back. At the end of that part, she cracked the egg to show him, like, the badness the egg had removed from him, I guess? We all inspected the egg goo. (It looked suspiciously egg-like to me.) She said he wouldn’t be so quick to anger after that. (Ha. She got the wrong kid for that one.) Then it was time for the aceite (oil). She had him smell it, and then both she and he rubbed it into his skin and hair.

I think I know where the huevos came from…

Once Story saw that Sagan survived the experience, she wanted to try it out, too.

All limpia! Why is getting clean so messy?

It was explained to us that these ladies put their good energy into their customers (or take on the bad?) so they need to rest after they work.

While this entire experience gave me the giggles, I am thankful we were able to take part in it. All the Ecuadorians we’ve talked to about it agree that it’s silly, but hey, it doesn’t hurt to try, right? And I can judge and laugh all I want, but I still knock on wood and say “break a leg” and try not to step on cracks. Our superstitions may be different, but what we humans all have in common is being a little bit ridiculous.