La Virgen de la Candelaria
During colonial times, Indians working in the mines often reported seeing the Virgin Mary surrounded by flames and fighting against the devil. In 1675, a Jesuit commission led by Father José María Zola, was sent to San Carlos de Puno to investigate the occurrence. Once there, he too witnessed the Virgin’s miracles, gave her the name of La Virgen De La Candelaria (Our Lady of the Flames) and appointed her Puno’s patroness.
Candelaria, then, alludes to the flames surrounding the Virgin Mary. However, this festival coincides with Candlemas on the traditional Catholic calendar, which commemorates Our Lady’s purification period, since, according to Hebrew law, women had to remain secluded for 40 days after childbirth.
The festival of La Candelaria is rich in color, movement and sound. These festivals are prepared well in advance by the “mayordomos” (those appointed to be the sponsors and organizers for the current year’s event), who work with all the community. Representatives come from very distant places. This celebration starts in Puno on January 24th with novenas (pravers) lasting for 8 days. Then comes the Central Feast on February 2nd, to continue with 8 days (octava) of dancing and merry-making. The octava celebration takes place on a Sunday, after February 2nd. It consists of a folk dance contest at the Enrique Torres stadium, in the city of Puno. Dances from remote corners of Puno are shown here.
Semana Santa - Holy Week
Holy Week is the Catholic feast which is celebrated throughout the country. The solemnity and originality of their processions make the Holy Week celebrations of Ayacucho, Huaraz, and Cusco exceptionally interesting . Large numbers of the local population participate, as well as a great number of visitors (Holy Week in Ayacucho is the most spectacular). The rituals preserve ancient medieval customs interwoven with ingredients of pre-Columbian religions.
Corpus Christi
Celebrated in the city of Cusco, Corpus Christi best represents the fusion of the two cultures - Spanish and indigenous. The original ritual has remained almost unchanged to date. Peruvian historian Victor Angeles Vargas explains that when the Spaniards arrived in Cusco, they observed that the people of Cusco celebrated a feast in honor of the Sun God (Inti Raymi) in June of each year at the winter solstice.
In this feast, nobles of the city, led by their priests, paraded their mummies and idols through the streets.
The Conquistadors were surprised to note certain similarities with the Spanish celebration of Corpus Christi (both celebrations were held in June and both honored divinities) so, they decided to replace the Inca feast with their own, Corpus Christi. The procession includes 14 richly-attired statues of the Virgin Mary and different patron saints of Cusco and surrounding towns. These statues are paraded on enormous silver platforms and accompanied by bands of musicians. It is an exceptionally colorful and original spectacle.
Inti Raymi - Revival of the Inca Sun Festival
Approximately fifty years ago, several local scholars reconstructed the feast of Inti Raymi as it was originally celebrated.
This great Inca winter solstice festival, which now takes place on June 24th in the city of Cusco, officially opens the sowing season, and it has become a major tourist event which attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world.
The Inti Raymi rites, customs and dances are realistically portrayed by hundreds of actors, musicians, and dancers who come from all the provinces of Cusco to participate in this internationally renowned festival.
This is the ideal occasion to witness the reenactment of one of the most splendid and important festivals of the Inca calendar and admire the rich and varied folklore of this region.
Aniversario Patrio
Independence Day celebrations are observed on July 28th throughout Peru. The most important events take place in the city of Lima. Parades of the military, public service organizations, and schools are just some of the items on the long list of official celebrations.
In addition, a gala horse race takes place at the Monterrico Race Track, and handicraft exhibitions and fairs are organized in different parts of the city.
Festidanza
Festidanza is one of the most popular annual events of the beautiful city of Arequipa and it usually takes place during the second week of August. Visitors enjoy the excellent regional folklore, as well as the latest in modern music and dances.
Internationally famous musical groups and singers perform over several days and the festive atmosphere is enriched with handicraft fairs and fireworks.
Procesion of the Señor de los Milagros
The procession of Our Lord of Miracles is celebrated in Lima on October 18th through the 20th. This is one of the longest-lasting and most-attended processions in the Americas.
The tradition stems from a remarkable event which took place in Lima during the earthquake of 1655, which totally destroyed the black slaves’ quarter of the city. The only structure that remained unharmed was a wall on which the image of a black Christ had been painted by one of the slaves. The Iglesia de las Nazarenas, one of the oldest Catholic churches in Lima, houses the copy of this first sacred image of Our Lord of Miracles.
For three days, the image is carried out in procession on the shoulders of the faithful through the main streets of the historical center of the capital city.
Public Holidays
| New Year |
January 1 |
| Holy Week |
April 1&2 |
| Labor Day |
May 1 |
| Saint Peter and Saint Paul |
June 29 |
| Independence Day |
July 28 |
| Saint Rosa of Lima |
August 30 |
| Battle of Angamos |
October 8 |
| All Saints Day |
November 1 |
| Immaculate Conception |
December 8 |
| Christmas |
December 25 |
The following days have been declared holidays, in order to create “long weekends” to encourage internal tourism.
| Friday |
30 April |
| Monday |
28 June |
| Friday |
30 July |
| Tuesday |
2 November |
| Monday |
27 December |
Folklore
For those who enjoy folklore but don’t have the opportunity to participate in any major festivals, there are three good alternatives:
Peñas are typical establishments where folklore dances and music are performed regularly. They can be found in many of the larger cities, particularly Lima and Cusco.
The main hotels also offer a variety of folklore shows, in such cities as Cusco, Lima, Arequipa, Trujillo and others.
In some cities, there are also cultural organizations established specifically to preserve national and regional folklore. Such organizations regularly put on performances of regional dances and music.
Cuisine
It has been said that every great culture has a great cuisine. This is especially true in Peru. Historically, the ancient Peruvian civilizations enriched the world with significant contributions by domesticating a great variety of plants for human consumption. The most notable are the many varieties of corn and potato, which are to this day an important part of the Peruvian’s diet.
From ancient times, the Peruvians were not frugal with their food. This can be seen in their varied diet and in the recipes which have been handed down.
With the arrival of the Spaniards, America in general and Peru in particular, benefited from the introduction of new species of animals and plants, which have enriched the Peruvian cuisine. The good food of Peru is also a product of other culinary influences. The descendants of Chinese and Japanese immigrants, for example, contributed to the diversification of cooking techniques and the introduction of exotic new dishes which, although of foreign origin, maintain a local flavor.
The visitor can enjoy Peruvian dishes based on the products of cold, temperate and tropical climates. Along the coast, fish and shellfish are prepared in a variety of ways, but the most popular is “ceviche”, a combination of seafood marinated in lemon juice.
In the sierra, dishes are based on products of the mountain region: potato, corn and different kinds of meat. Among the best dishes of this region are rocotos rellenos (chili peppers stuffed with meat), adobo (marinated pork) and the famous choclos (corn on the cob) served with anticuchos (meat or poultry brochettes). Besides the few named here, there are very many other dishes worth trying.
Beverages
Chicha, made from fermented corn, was drunk by the Incas and continues to be one of the most popular drinks among the inhabitants of the Peruvian highlands.
The Spaniards, on the other hand, introduced grapevines and, since 1620, the production of wine in the Ica region has been notable. After the eighteenth century, a new beverage, Pisco, was created and produced in Peru from the distillation of the fermented juice of a type of grape called Quebranta. Pisco is a clear alcoholic drink with a unique taste. Its name comes from the Quechua word Pesqo, or bird, which was the name of the valley where this beverage is mainly produced. The most popular drink among Peruvians, as well as visitors, is Pisco Sour.
Handicrafts
Local art in Peru dates from pre-Columbian times. Textiles, gold and silver articles, as well as ceramics, are examples of the rich creativity of ancient craftsmen. When the Spaniards arrived, their religious zeal led them to destroy many objects and designs which embodied the religion of the inhabitants. Many local artists consequently ceased producing traditional objects, and rapidly adapted to the new techniques and forms imported from Europe. Examples are the stone and wood sculptures, as well as the paintings, which adorned houses and colonial churches.
The artwork of the twentieth century is a result of the original encounter with Europe, and also of the evolution of the regions of Peru.
Although some artistic lines have disappeared, others have continued unchanged, and still others have been modified substantially in response to modernization and the increase of tourism. Until recently, the craftsman’s activity was a means of providing a little extra income to cope with family needs, an activity to supplement his agricultural work. Over time, however, as agriculture has given way to town development, handicraft production has taken on a far more commercial character.
Handicrafts in Peru are produced by local craftsmen and organizations or community workshops. They make utilitarian articles (pots, blankets, cloths, etc.) as well as decorative items for sale to national and foreign tourists. It is estimated that there are more 300 artisan producers in the country.
The majority of handicrafts are produced in the following departments: Lima, Piura, Puno, Cusco, Junín, Ayacucho, and Cajamarca. Lima is the site of the largest concentration of artisans because of migration from provinces all over Peru. Therefore, the visitor can find the entire range of handicraft products in Lima (see the handicrafts map) or at traditional fairs, such as those held in Huancayo, Pisac, and Chinchero, the last two named towns in the department of Cusco.
It is almost impossible to list the many handicrafts which can be found in the markets. Nevertheless, a wide variety of high quality textile products made of cotton and animal fibers (alpaca and llama) continue to be produced using ancient techniques. Utilitarian and decorative ceramics come from the jungle, coast and sierra regions. Religious imagery, painting, wood carving, basketry (hats and baskets) and of course, the rich gold and silver work in all types of jewelry can be found as well.
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