Brittany McGee

As I ended my time in Olmos, more and more people asked me to be Madrina. I was the Madrina of students at their swearing-in ceremonies, the senior recognition ceremony and of a first haircut.

Yes. A first haircut.

My first host family made the almost 24-hour trek from south of Lima back to their house in Olmos my last month in site so that we could spend time together. They also asked me if I could be the Madrina of the not-so-baby-anymore of the family’s first haircut.

A child’s first haircut in Peru is often a big deal. Some people believe it’s bad luck to cut the child’s hair before baptism, regardless of gender. So, sometimes baptisms and haircuts are done at the same time; other times, the two events are separated.

Two-year-old Lucia had been baptized earlier in the year, but the family had saved the haircutting until I was able to celebrate with them.

The afternoon of Lucia’s haircut, several family members stopped by to be a part of the occasion. The cousin who had been chosen as Padrino took a pair of scissors and snipped away at Lucia’s baby hair while I held her. Afterwards, I had the honor of also cutting her hair. I awkwardly took the scissors, grabbed a chunk too big and hacked away, leaving her curly hair very uneven.

Depending on the family and resources, the first haircut could be reason to host a huge party, with DJ and dancing, attended by many. At these larger parties, many people will cut the child’s hair once the Padrino and Madrina have started the event. Usually the people who snip away also leave a small monetary gift. As my host sister didn’t want Lucia to be bald after the event (it can happen at some of these parties), no one else participated.

Keeping with Peruvian tradition, my host sisters and mom had prepared a meal of meat, potatoes and rice. They served all in attendance small but overflowing plates and we chatted while eating. Many family members excused themselves once they finished the meal, and that concluded the celebration.

While the whole ordeal lasted less than an hour, it was an important event to my host family, something they’ll likely reference for years and remind Lucia of as she gets older. I am now and forever one of Lucia’s Madrinas, and though throughout her lifetime she’ll have plenty more, I’ll be fondly remembered for cutting her hair.