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| Festivals
and Holidays in the Cusco region |
January 6 
Bajada de Reyes - The Visit of the Wise Men
This religious festivity coincides with the taking of
power of the Varayoc whose authority is given to his
successor with a silver-tipped staff as a symbol. There
is a procession in which two images, The Christ Child
and San Isidro the farmer are walked around the city.
A bullfight takes place in the afternoon. |
February 1 - 14
Fiesta de la Candelaria - The Virgen of the Candelaria
- Puno
This is one of the most important religious celebrations
to honor the Virgin of the Candelaria. The Central day
is on February the 2nd. Approximately 50 musical groups
from all over Puno perform wearing very attractive costumes.
It is a beautiful combination of colors, beauty and
high spirit. |
February
Festival Carnavalesco - Carnival
ACORA: is the name of an Aymara Dance Festival that
the community of Acora holds near Lake Titicaca, 35
km south of Puno. Acora is well-known for its cultural
tradition and its dances refer to love and the relationship
between earth, animals and natural phenomena.
CUSCO: All through the month of February, the Pukllay
or Game can be seen in the city. The carnival begins
with the "Day of Compadres" in which people
display their joy with flowers, paint, and water. |
March - April
Semana Santa - Holy Week
AYACUCHO: This festivity, which takes place in March
or April, is incredibly beautiful in Ayacucho. The Holy
Week is celebrated with great pomp and the religiosity
of the people can be felt in the air. During the week
there are many processions and people participate with
a lot of devotion.
CUSCO: The Holy Week is one of the examples of the Spanish
heritage. On Monday, the biggest religious procession
takes place in Cusco. "El Señor de los Temblores"
is walked around the main streets of Cusco followed
by thousands of people. During the rest of the week,
Death and Resurrection are remembered through processions,
the preparation of the Twelve Dishes and fasting. |
May 2 - 3
Cruz Velacuy - Festival of the Crosses
This is a religious festivity also brought by the
Spanish. Crosses are adorned with flowers and ribbons.
People venerate the crosses during the night, they pray,
and the crosses are carried to churches where they are
blessed. Groups of musicians and dancers accompany the
crosses.
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| June is a great month
to be in Cusco. There are several festivals and fairs
that take place and are quite enjoyable. |
May - June
Señor de Qoyllur Riti - Lord of Qoyllur
Riti
Qoyllur Riti or Snow Star constitutes an important
manifestation of religiosity in the Andes. The blending
of Spanish and Indigenous elements is interesting: The
Apus or mountain-gods and the crosses.
Pilgrims walk for about 4 hours, they have to pass by
9 crosses and shrines. The Sanctuary is located in Sinakhara,
at about 4600 m. The crowd takes a purification bath
which is needed in order to enter a spiritual dimension
where both the energy of deities and men join. |
May - June
Corpus Christi Festivity
In Cusco, 15 sacred images make their rounds of
the city streets, followed by their brotherhoods and
musical groups which create a sort of a competition.
All the images representing virgins and saints are taken
to the Cathedral where they are blessed before returning
to their own churches.
Chiri Uchu is the characteristic food of this festivity.
Fruits such as chirimoya, coconut, sugar cane, etc are
also typical. |
June - first week
Queswachaka - Hanging Bridge Festival
During the first week of every June, in the Apurimac
region there is a wonderful festival celebrated by several
local communities. It is a non-touristy - though you
can go if you want - festival in which the hanging bridge,
over the Apurimac River is destroyed and then rebuilt
by the surrounding communities who work together. The
women weave ropes out of ichu grass and then the men
construct the bridge with the recently made ropes. Once
finished, the bridge is inaugurated during a Shamanic
ceremony. Afterwards, everyone crosses the bridge and
pays one sole as a symbolic payment, or offering, for
the privilege of crossing the new bridge. The following
day the festivities continue with typical dances that
include members from the youngest children to the adults,
all in typical costume of brilliant colors representing
each of the participating communities. From the destruction
of the bridge, its reconstruction, the dances, the views
of the surrounding scenery, the Queswachaka festival
is absolutely unforgettable. |
June 18 to 30
Feria Agropecuaria Huancaro
From June 18 to 30 Cusco is host to the Huancaro
Agropecaria Fair. Just like state and national fairs
in many countries, regional, national and international
exhibitors present farm animals such as pigs, cows,
sheep, guinea pigs, chickens, llamas, and alpacas in
this traditional fair; and their products such as dairy
items, desserts, sweets, wools and woven items, and
much, much, more. Locals and visitors will also take
pleasure in open-air music concerts and typical foods
from the 13 provinces of Cusco. And like any fair, there
are games and rides for children of all ages to enjoy! |
June 24
Inti Raymi - The Sun Festival
Inti Raymi celebrated on June 24th the Inca Festival
to honor the beginning of the New Year of the sun. Each
Winter Solstice in Cusco, when the sun is farthest from
the earth, the native residents gathered to honor the
Sun God, sacrifice an animal (no longer done!) to ensure
good crops and to pay homage to the Inca as the first
born son of the Sun. Fearing the lack of sun and consequent
famine, the ancient Incas gathered in Cusco to honor
the Sun God and plead for his return. Nowadays the weeklong
festival culminates on June 24, with a scripted and
staged reenactment beginning with a chant by the “Sapa
Inca”, in the Qorikancha sun temple, followed
by a procession to the ancient fortress of Sacsayhuamán,
overlooking Cusco, where the main stage hosts exciting
scenes to about 100,000 onlookers – a mix of local,
national and international visitors. |
July 15 - 16
Fiesta de la Virgen de Carmen, known as "Mamacha
Carmen".
The religious festivity of Nuestra Señora del
Carmen is mainly celebrated in the towns of Paucartambo
and Pisaq. Known as the festivity of the "Mamacha
Carmen", it is a religious celebration deeply settled
in its inhabitants who display extravagance and happiness.
We suggest a visit to Tres Cruces a point from where
you can admire the amazing sunrise. Many people from
different cities of Peru go to Paucartambo for this
festivity. Colorful dancers accompany Mamacha Carmen
in magnificent processions, and typical food is offered
to people by the local sponsors. |
July 26 to 30
"Yawar Fiesta"
This ritual bullfight is held in Cotabambas, a town
in the department of Apurimac, on July 28 and 29 to
celebrate Peru's independence. Yawar Fiesta is a representation
of the fight from the Incas against the conquerors.
A condor representing the Incas is tied to the back
of the bull representing the Spanish. The celebrants
jump into the bullring to wave the cape in front of
the bull which is enraged by the bird's pecking. At
the end the condor is set free.
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July 28 and 29
Fiestas Patrias - Independence Day of Peru
On July 28, 1821, the Independence from Spain was
proclaimed. From then on, this day is commemorated with
different ceremonies throughout the country. Evening
gatherings in streets and plazas of different cities
take place every day. Each town has its own traditions.
The biggest attraction is the military Parade that is
held in one of Lima's main avenues. |
August 1
Pago a la Pachamama - Payment to the Mother Earth
This ritual is performed all over the highlands
of Peru on August 1st. It is an ancestral festivity
where locals thank "Pachamama" or Mother Earth
for everything obtained during the year (good crops,
rain, etc.). People pay their respect with little gifts
as coca leaves, corn, different grains, etc. |
September 14
Señor de Huanca - Lord of Huanca
Every year, on September 14, thousands of devotees
from Peru and some from places such as Bolivia, Paraguay,
Argentina and Chile go to the Sanctuary of Huanca to
receive the blessing of the Lord.
In 1675, Diego Quispe who was an Indian escaped from
the Yasos mine where he had suffered abuse. He hid from
his master in a cave, and it is said that this place
was illuminated by the presence of God. As soon as the
priests of Our Lady of Mercy heard the story, they had
an artist from the Cusquenian School sent there to paint
an image of the Lord in the place where it had been
seen. |
October 18 to 28
"Señor de los Milagros" - Lord
of Miracles
October is the month of celebrations to honor The
Lord of the Miracles (Señor de los Milagros),
the Patron Saint of Lima. Many street processions in
which the Image of Jesus is carried on an ornamented
altar are followed by the faithful dressed in purple
robes. The entire celebration, reverent and at the same
time festive, is accompanied by singing, music, the
sound of bells and the burning of incense. |
November 1, 2
Todos los Santos - All Saints Day
The beginning of this celebration is on November
1st with the Day of the Living. Relatives and friends
get together to enjoy the typical meal called lechon
(roasted pork) with tamales. The Day of the Dead is
on the 2nd of November and everybody visits the cemetery
and takes gifts to the family members who passed away. |
December 24
Santurantikuy
Cusco is known for its artisans who have become
famous around the world with their unique style. For
Christmas famous and unknown artisans from Cusco exhibit
their works, made with the best of their patience, in
the Plaza de Armas. The miniatures made to adorn the
Nativity scene are the delight of children. |
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