As the name implies, it is an ingenious device that fits onto the carrier's back to transport goods or people. Constructed of wood, it consists of a frame secured to the carrier's shoulders and head by ropes or straps. Small legs—or wooden supports—facilitate handling, making it easier to both lift the device and set it down on the ground..
In the context of Medellín’s Flower Festival, it is the primary vehicle for transporting the floral arrangements that honor and commemorate the traditional craft of flower growing—a practice particularly emblematic of the Santa Elena district.
Today, the descendants of those who once walked down the mountain—carrying heavy loads of flowers on their backs to support their families—stand as symbols of the culture and tradition of Medellín and Antioquia..
