Festivities in Cuzco 

The best, the only way of compenetrating with a city that is living a constant festivity like Cusco is to understand the deep sense of its celebrations. The range of festivities that Cusco propose to the visitor is almost endless. Thus, the main ceremonies are the ones that establish the most important moments. By the way, Cusco take also into account the national holidays such as our Independence day but none of them can be compared to the regional celebrations in Cusco if we talk about the quantity of audience joint.
The Coyllur Riti, for instance, meet pilgrims from the andean south as well as from other nearby countries. On the other side, there are minor celebrations related to daily life such as cleaning the drains, the first hair cut or the engagement of a couple.
Along with all of these celebrations and showing the versatility and diversity of Cusco as a festive city, modernity has entered the city establishing a festival which could be considered the most important festival of youth music in the country.

The historic background of the festivities
Since the Inca period, the religious, military and civic ceremonies were very important in the Sacred City of the Incas as they reaffirmed the magic and mythic character of their city. During the colony, the religious festivities became more important. Along the years, festivities have suffered many changes. Although all the elements that have been included, the celebrations have not loosen their main features and they are still, most of them, related to the agriculture and cattle calendar.

The festivities of the vital cycle
It is about a series of festivities that had, even today they do, a very important role in their social life. They create and reinforce the links of relationships and reciprocity among the andean communities. Among them we have the haircut or rutuchikuy, the serwinakuy or mock marriage and the day of death people.

The colonial festivities
Festivities became more important during the colony. The baroque festivity, splendid product of the Counter-Reformation was thought as a method of resistance against the sudden attack of the Protestantism. As they considered it as the institute for the civilization par excellence, Spanish authorities tried all the social levels participate in them. Thus, in the new squares, in the masses and processions, along with the songs and firework, the native inhabitants were incorporated little by little to the new order. The wealth of the prehispanic ceremonial life facilitated the establishment of colonial ceremonies and contribute to the symbiosis. As Catholicism is also a religion of solar worship, the date of the catholic festivities were the same as in the andean world. The western calendar of festivities was established along with the andean calendar. We have the same day the celebration of the Inti Raymi and the Corpus Christi for instance.

Easter and the Lord of tremors
Easter is a central commemoration in the catholic world as it reminds us about the death and resurrection of Christ. In Cusco, the celebration of Easter is related to the Lord of tremors: the defensor of the city.
The image of the Taytacha Tremors, as it is called in Cusco, amazes by its expression of roughness and pain. The worship dates from the colony when in 1650 a horrible earthquake practically destroyed the city and the population decided to take the Christ out in procession by the streets of the city.

For the cross, the saints and crops
At the time of the conquest of America, the cross was the symbol of the new religion and the european civilization. With that purpose, the Council of Lima ordered to put crosses in all the ancient worship places. But, despite all the orders, the indian continue venerating their huacas below the Christian symbol. As the time past, a religious syncretism started. The cross was related to the huacas. Finally it became the symbol of the union between the catholic religious and the andean believes. Nowadays, the cross has a very important place in the andean world. The festivity of the Velacuy cross is celebrated the first week of May and concurred with the period of crop.

Regional festivities
During the last years, the regional festivities have become more and more popular. They join thousand of pilgrims from all the andean south and nearby countries. The organization of the festivities and the competence among the devotees to assume their charges and the butlership of the festivity are clear signs of their importance and meaning. The most celebrated regional festivities are the festivity of the Lord of Coyllur Riti, the Lord of Huanca and the Virgin of Carmen.

The renaissance of the Inti Raymi
In 1944, on initiative of Humberto Vidal a representative of the Inca Garcilaso Center and one of the most notable characters of the neoindian movement, they established the week of Cusco. June 24th was declared as the main day of Cusco and the Inti Raymi was established the most important event taking place in the esplanade of Sacsayhuaman. Besides, they composed the hymn and the song of the city. For some notable persons in Cusco, the intention was to support a "revolution" directed to the people in Cusco in order to make them assume the importance of valuing the inca past.

JANUARY

January the 1st: Deliver of sticks
Description: At the beginning of every year the oldest men of each community meet to name the candidate who will become into maximum authorities of their town: the Varayocs.

From the 1st to 6th:Churches and Houses of Cusco exhibit typical birth-house ornaments.

Day 6th: They show the "Descent of the Three wise men": in a religious festivity performed in Ollantaytambo.

January 19th-20th (Perachapchi or Pera Chapchy): San Sebastian. Patronal Festival of San Sebastian. Bull runs, men take flowers in their hats, procession and folklore with typical dances.

January 20th Ch'iriaje (Cheraque)
Province of Canas, district of Yanaoca (community of Checa)
Ceremonial fight among the inhabitants of the communities of Checa and Quechue. These people participate in a fighter play in order to originate the fertility of the land. The winner community is the one with the most quantity of lands. Men are carrying their weapons: slings, leather and wood whips, dressed with waistcoats decorated with flowers. Women helped taking care of horses and recollecting stones. They also encourage men singing. Peru Contest among men from different sectors in order to determinate who is the best and the bravest. This fight is performed in different towns and from ancient times.

January 20th VIRGEN DE BELEN (Virigin of Belen) She is considered as the patroness of the city of Cusco, the image is sumptuous due to the wealth of its jewels.

14th, San Antonio de Abad, Acomayo. According to the popular tradition, he is considered as the "Patron of pork butchers". The celebrations to honour this Saint can last up to a week.                

FEBRUARY

Variable date: The Festivities of the Carnival is celebrated in the different towns of the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

February 2nd: Fights of Tocto
Province of Chumbivilcas, district of Livitaca (Toctopata)
It takes place in a placed called Tocto located between the districts of Yanaoca ad Livitaca. It lasts three days. They evoke the fights to win lands to cultivate. The first day, the participants install in the place, the second day they start the individual fights and then they form groups of five up to ten people. After eating and drinking, they fight until the third day. Then they collect the injured people and perform the K'aswa (serenades where winners and losers celebrate).
February 2nd: Day of the Candelaria
Traditional Farming, agricultural and artisan fair, bull race.

February 27th: Tinca of cows
Place: Quico (Cusco)
Description: This party, related to the image of Santiago Apostle, has as the main event the mark of the cattle. The mark or "señalay" is just celebrated by the families owing animals. They invitate beef or llama meat and "chicha" to the visitors.

MARCH

March 23rd: The Spanish Regimen of the City of Cusco

Second fornight of March to the First Week of April: (Variable date) They start the celebrations of Easter. The processions are very important.
Saint Monday: Procession of the Lord of Tremors: Declared Patron of Cusco. Blessing of the city.
Good Friday: Procession of the Saint Grave and the Virgen Dolorosa by the Main Square and the center streets of the city. Exhibitions of the Eucharist.

Cusco, from the 30th to the 31st: Quispicanchi, Sara Raymi. Traditional trade fair celebrated in honour to the festivities of the Purified Virgin of Kaninkunka.

APRIL

Second fornight of March to the First week of April: (Variable date) They continue celebrating Easter. The celebration of Easter is very especial in Cusco. There are pilgrims from different places, visitors from Peru and other countries.

Saint Monday: Lord of TremorsDescription: Since 1650, according to the devotees, a canvas of Christ of the Good Death stopped a b earthquake that shake the city of Cusco. People worship the image of "Taitacha Tremors". This celebration allows us to clearly observe the merge of the Andean and Christian Religions.

MAY

MAY 2nd: The festivity of Cruz Velacuy ( Velacuy Cross) is the day of the catholic crosses in Cusco and in most of the Andean villages. The festivity lasts until May 4th (date that is not specific as it can vary between May and June).

First Week of May: Festivity of the Lord of Qoyllurit'I in the Mountain of Sinakhara that is the Ocongate. They have a procession.
Qoyllority
Province of Quispicanchi, district of Ocongate
Pilgrimage to the top of the snowy peak of Ocongate. Along the path they have a procession, dances, music bands, fireworks and the symbolic market of the Alacitas (fair of tiny handicrafts). This festivity join two traditions: the andean and the catholic tradition as they celebrate that the image of Christ appeared on a solid rock at 4750 m.a.s.l. and at the same time they celebrate the worship to the Apu Ocongate.
The Qoyllor Rit'I is the festivity of the Lord of Ice. They have a crowded procession meeting more than 20 000 pilgrims who walk along 8 km. They have groups of dances from the same area and other areas. They mix prehispanic and Christian customs. As they return, they perform another longer walk where they have some rites such as the adoration of the Apu Ausangate and the Lord of Qoyllur Ritt'i. This festivity is considered as one of the most important of America during three days in Sinaqara in the district of Ocongate province of Quispicanchis at 4800 m.a.s.l. up to minimum temperatures of -4°C.
Description: The most important indian procession in America.
People from the district of Ocongate (Quispicanchis) in the department of Cusco perform a rite where the external symbol is the image of Christ but the essence is the union of the man with nature.

Festival of the Beer of Cusco: This festival is celebrated near the date of the festivities in Cusco every year. They have important national and international artists and musicians. Young people from all over the country travel to Cusco to participate. It takes place in the Garden of the Beer of Cusco (Culture Avenue)

May 8th: Folkloric festival Qheswa Chaca in the Cannon of Apurimac

May 21st Festival of Artisans. Raqchi
Contest of folkloric dances and native beauty in the archaeological area of Raqchi.

Mayo 23rd Jubilar week of Cusco
Great parade of all the institutes composing the society of Cusco. They show their most beautiful typical costumes, dances and choreographies. This festivity lasts two days. Fireworks. Serenades to the city.

JUNE

JUNE 3rd: Lord of Torrechayoq. Province of Urubamba. The origins of this festivity date from 1867 . They made a huge cross and put it on the snow. They celebrated a mass to inaugurate one part of the road (Urubamba- Lares). Later, it was taken to the valley of "Ch'ynaqasa" and then they built a sanctuary in the city of Urubamba where they give worship to it. Apart from the mass, the cross is taken out in procession with all its jewels. The celebrations include firework, parade of dances, bull races and razor cockfights.

June 11th (9 weeks after Ash Thursday): CORPUS CRISTI, is a religious festivity celebrated in the Main Square of Cusco. There are 14 images coming from 14 chapels or churches of Cusco.
Previously , there is a huge carriage covered in silver that go by the streets of Cusco. We can observe a mixture of andean and catholic rites, the litters and the images are full of pomp and extravagance showed in the processions of Virgins and Saints from almost all the chapels. The typical dish is the "Chiriuchu" (cold food).
Corpus Christi (June, variable date)
Province of Cusco, district of Cusco
Procession of the images of 16 patronal saints. In addition to the processions there are bands of musicians and folkloric groups. The typical and classic dish of this festivity is the "Chiri Uchu" (guinea pig roasted with cecina and toasted corn).

First fornight of June: Festival of OllantayRaymi. Dramatization of the Ollantay drama, Dances and typical dishes. Ollantaytambo.

June 23rd: Relative Festivity in the Wiraqocha, temple of the Inca of the town of Raqchi, the district of San Pedro (Saint Peter) province of Canchis.

June 24th: INTI RAYMI, dramatization of an ancient rite representing the peaceful relation between the man and the cosmic manifestations mainly with the Sun. First, the festivity takes place in Koricancha and it starts in the solstice of Winter. Then it continues up to the Main Square and the main part of the rite takes place in the esplanade of Saqsayhuaman where they sacrifice a black or white llama as an offer to the God Sun. It is also considered as the most important celebration in the city as it is on the same day than the festivities of Cusco.

Inti Raymi (June 24th)
Province of Cusco, district of Cusco
Dramatization expressing the harmonious relation between the man and the God Sun: maximum divinity of the Incas. It is celebrated in the solstice of winter. Currently, it is started in the Koricancha and then in the esplanade of Saqsayhuaman where they sacrifice a llama as an offer to God.

June 2nd: Festivity of San Pedro and San Pablo (Saint Peter and Saint Paul) in the chapel of San Pedro in Cusco and in the districts of the same names in the province of Canchis.                                 

JULY

- CORPUS OF SANTIAGO, is a religious festivity where they have a mass, numerous and beautiful dances. The typical dish of the festivity is the "Chiriuchu". It is celebrated in the square of the same name.

- CORPUS OF SANTA ANA, is also a religious celebration performed in the chapel of Santa Ana. They celebrate one day before the main day with a festive mass, procession, dances and musicians. Its typical dish is also the "Chiriuchu".
July 16th: The religious festivity of Nuestra Señora del Carmen is celebrated in the town of Paucartambo and in Pisaq. Known as the festivity of the "Mamacha Carmen", it is a religious celebration deeply settled in its inhabitants where they squander extravagance and happiness.
We recommend you to visit the natural balcony of Three crosses from where you can admire the unique and fantastic sunset in Cusco. The Virgen del Carmen is not only commemorated with a procession but also with dances and music. The festivity of Paucartambo, district of Paucartambo and other villages.

July 25th to July 29th: Festivities of Quillamba. The Festivity of the Coffee.
Province of "La Convención", district of Santa Ana.
Celebration of the anniversary of the Province of La Convención. Its capital is the city of Quillabamba. Every year during this week they choose the Miss Coffee or Miss Quillabamba. They have contests of cockfights, motorcycles, as well as the Fair of Cocla where they have a musical festival with international and national artists, typical dishes prepared with typical products of the area, fireworks, processions and parades.

July 31st: Offers or "despachos" in every community in honour to the "mother land".

July 31st: "Tinka" of the cattle. Ceremonies of baptism to the cattle in every community.

AUGUST

Pachamama Raymi or Day of the Mother Land (August 1st). All the provinces

01 Day dedicated to the land: This day nobody at the communities works on their fields, they do not use any tool to cultivate either. The 1st: OFFER TO THE LAND, is an andean rite performed in all the regions where they make offers called "payments" to the Mother Land as a sign of retribution and reverence for crops and food it offers to people and animals.

Important rite in the andean conception. The Pachamama (Mother Land) plays an important role. For this reason they offer worship to it with an especial ceremony called "Payment to Land" (offers of coca leaves, chicha of jora and huayruros seeds: mystic seeds from the jungle). This rite indicates the beginning of the andean new year.
- CORPUS OF SAN CRISTOBAL, religious festivity celebrated in the chapel of San Cristobal. They have dances accompanied by "gaperos" (musicians) one day before and the same main day during the procession. The reason is the homage to the Saint Patron of the transport people. They also offer diverse dishes but the main dish is the "Chiriuchu".

The performance of the Warachikuy, Inca party in Sacsayhuaman
Warachikuy. Dramatization of the Warachikuy in Sacsayhuaman. Cusco. August and /or September.

August 30th Santa Rosa: Meeting of peasants in order to celebrate playing local music, festivity of maidens. Return.

SEPTEMBER

14th: The Festivity of the Lord of Huanca has a procession to the city of Cusco as well as a fair of cattle in the town of San Salvador.
Lord of Huanca (September 14th)
Province of Calca, district of San Salvador
The story of the Lord of Huanca started in 1675 when it is said that Jesus Christ appeared into a cave in front of the indian Diego Quispe. His own relate inspired to one of the best painters of those times who copied the image of the rocks. The main day of the worship (recognized in 1779) is on September 14th. People from distant places of Peru and Bolivia meet there to have their body and soul pains cured.

The 30th: the Festivity of San Jeronimo in the district of San Jeronimo offers a tourist week with different sports and cultural activities.
-CORPUS OF ALMUDENA, is a religious festivity celebrated in the chapel or church of Almudena where they performed a procession and a performance of typical dances from Cusco and the area of the high plateau. The "chiriuchu" is also the main dish.

-CORPUS OF SAN JERONIMO, religious festivity celebrated in the district of San Jeronimo. They have religious acts, masses of festivities, processions, presentations of diverse dances. This Saint is the Patron of Lawyers and Tourist Guides.

-TOURIST MONTH, they have events of tourism with especial cultural, ecotourism and sportive activities. Everybody is welcome.

OCTOBER

- The Tourist Month continues.

- 4th: The festivity of San Francisco in Tinta, Urcos and Maras.
Date: October 4th
Festivity: Virgen del Rosario (Virgin of the Rosary)
Place: Lima, Ancash, Apurimac, Arequipa and Cusco.
Description: The virgen del Rosario is the patroness of the Dominic Order. They were in charge of the confraternity of the slaves during the colony. For this reason, her image often went with a sign of the letter "S" hold by a needle (symbol of black slaves).
October 10th: Virgen del Rosario (Virgin of the Rosary)
Fair of bulls and preparation of Pachamancas Quispicanchis and Canchis.
October 31st: Cristo Rey (Christ King)
People who sell onions in the city order to celebrate masses. They have bands and folkloric dances in the district of San Sebastian. Return.

NOVEMBER

The 1st: it is the day of All Souls. They usually visit cemeteries.

The 2nd: it is the day of All Saints. They have a religious festivity in all the region where they frequently celebrate baptisms and sell "wawas" (dolls) and the "little horses". For this day they prepare the "suckling pig": food prepared with roasted pork , and the "tamales" which are a sort of buns based on corn (the wet-bread of corn).

01 All saints
Baptism of "wawas" of bread, gastronomic specialities such as suckling pig, tamales, stews among others.
02 Day of Souls
Pilgrimage to the cemeteries organized and performed by the population in Cusco. Offers to death people in the cemetery, offers to eat in the churches, solemn masses.

04 Folkloric meeting.
Folkloric meeting of the high provinces. Return.

DECEMBER

VIRGEN INMACULADA (Inmaculate Virgin) Dec 8th Cusco
Very traditional religious festivity in the town. The celebrations include novenaries, masses and presentations of typical dances.

The 19th: They celebrate the Gastronomic Festivity in Andahuaylillas.

The 24th: Fair of Santuranticuy (the Purchase of Saints). This event is celebrated since the arrival of the Spaniards at the city of Cusco. They buy images of worked clay to "build" birth ornaments of Christmas in every house. Currently, the fair of popular art is older, bigger and higher quality of Peru. Artists of silver and gold work, basket factory, carving work, tolls, among others. As in ancient times, it takes place around the Main Square of Cusco.

Date: December 24th
Festivity: Fair of Santiranticuy
Place: Cusco
Description: Colonial origin, "Santuranticuy" is a provisional market where the artisans and sculptors of sacred images offer the most diverse little figures to cheer the festivities of Christmas and go with the manger or "birth-house ornaments".

Santuranticuy (December 24th)
Province of Cusco, district of Cusco
Fair performed in the Main Square of Cusco where the artisans meet to sell a great variety of sacred images, wood carvings and handicrafts in order to arrange their birth-house ornaments.

15th: Folkloric- Civic Festival: Bernardo Tambo Huaqso Pumallali organized by the district council of Calca- Pisac.

20th Gastronomic Festival
Great Gastronomic Festival of the region organized by the district council of Quispicanchis.