The Andean city of Cusco is home to several very authentic Andean festivals throughout the year. Visiting Cusco any time is a great idea, but coming in for one of the festivals is all the more special! Of course you’ll certainly want to visit Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, perhaps even tour the Peruvian Amazon. The mixture with the Spanish and subsequent immigration from Africa and the Far East, as well as Europe, has brought about a society that is immensely rich in culture and folklore. In terms of religion, the blend between pre Hispanic religions and Catholicism is very much alive: people celebrate with fervour the religious and natural cycles of their age-old calendar. Most religious celebrations have a pagan undertone: the shrines to the Virgin are often the same as those to the Mother Earth and those to Christ are often related to mountain worship.
There are so many places to see, lots of fun to be had! The festivals are always a treat, so you may want to try to plan your trip to enjoy one of these, listed by date:
- February is Carnival. Though it’s enormous in much of South America, it’s considerably less significant an event in Peru, perhaps in part because it’s within the rainy season.
- From the last week of March through the first week of April the Lord of Tremors festival celebrates the combination of Christianity with the existing Peruvian religions. Why Lord of Tremors? It is said that, in 1650, a Christ of the Good Death squelched an earthquake that would have destroyed Cusco.
- In late May or early June is the Cusco Beer Festival. A very popular event, live musicians play well into the night and people enjoy imbibing the adult libations.
- Two months after Easter Sunday, in the beginning of June, is the Corpus Christi festival. It is said that this is the most amazing festival in Peru. Parades include a procession of saints and virgins which meet up at the main cathedral before noon to greet the risen Christ. Considerable traditional food and beer are enjoyed by the participants. Be sure to make your way to the Plaza de Armas during the Corpus Christi.
- June 24, the Winter Solstice of the Southern Hemisphere, marks the Inti Raymi festival. This celebration of the Sun God originated with the Inca people. Locals wear bright Peruvian colors, which stand out all the more vividly against the stone ruins. Be sure to make your way to Cusco for this most beautiful of all Andean festivals!
- November 1st is All Saints Day. In Peru, this is another festival which merges the original Inca religion with Christianity. People visit cemeteries, celebrating the memory of the dead, and leave them flowers and food. A moving festival, worth experiencing.
- December 24-25th is a holiday to all Christians. In Peru, once again, Christmas combines elements of Inca, Andean and Christian traditions in a fascinating way. The many gods were sometimes merged together or renamed to become Christian saints. The festivities conclude on Santuranticuy, which is the Sale of the Saints
As you can see, there are many opportunities to include the experience of a festival in your trip to Cusco. The sights, sounds, scents, flavors and spirit of a festival can be very rewarding, providing vivid memories to take back with you and enjoy again and again when you return home. If you would like to enjoy one of the festivals, let your agent know when you speak with Latin Excursions about your custom trip to wonderful Cusco, Peru!
