The Q’ero people inherited many of their traditions from ancient Inca communities, including a ceremony widely known by its Spanish name despacho, which refers to the burning of offerings to send messages to the spirits. Known as hawarikuy in Quechua, the ceremony is performed to mark important moments in life such as marriages and births, but also to ensure a good harvest: coca leaves are placed together with various foodstuffs and small stones or pieces of paper and folded into a small package that is placed into a fire.