Peru Festivities
Public Holidays
(all public institutions are closed these days of the year)
| Day | Hollyday |
| 1 January | Año Nuevo (New Years Day) |
| Feb/March | Carnaval (Mardigraz) |
| March/April | Holy Week/ Easter - read more about the Peruvian Holy Week |
| 1 May | Dia de los Trabajadores (Labor Day) |
| May/June | Corpus Christi |
| 24 June | Dia de los Campesinos (Farmer Day) |
| 29 June | Fiesta Pedro y Paul (Peter and Paul) |
| 28/29 July | Fiestas Patrias (Independence Day) |
| 15 August | Virgen de la Asunción (Assumption Day) |
| 30 August | Santa Rosa de Lima (Feast to praise Saint Rosa in Lima) |
| 8 October | Dia de la Dignidad Nacional (Day of National Pride) |
| 1 November | Dia de Todos los Santos (All Saints) |
| 8 December | Festividad de la Inmaculada Concepción (Maria Conception) |
| 25 December | Navidad (Christmas) |
| 31 December | Noche de San Silvestre (New Year's Eve) |
Festivals in Peru:
Every year about 3000 folcloric festivals are celebrated in Peru, the majority of which are destignated to the Holy Saints of a town. The festivities are held alongside other activities such as fairs, processions, pilgrimages, dances, craftsshows and other events which all bristle with spirit and joy.
6 January BAJADA DE REYES (Kings of Jerusalem entrance) Belen
In the town of Belen various kinds of contests take place. Among
them are dances like the Tijeras, Huaylillas and the Wiraquos.
20 January FESTIVAL DE LA MARINERA Trujillo
Marinera is one of Peru's most elegant dances. Couples from all
over Peru compete in the country's largest Marinera competition
which takes place in Trujillo. During the dancing festival other
processions are held. This creates a celebratory atmosphere within
the entire city. The Trujillaños meet at the central square
in order to dance and celebrate.
1 - 14 February VIRGEN DE LA CANDELARIA Puno
In this time of the year the streets of Puno are filled with dancers
in colourful robes and custumes especially at the shores of Lake
Titicaca. More than 200 music and dance groups arrive in order to
praise the Virgin Candelaria. In the course of a colourful procession
the virgin is carried through the whole city. The festival's highlight
is the dance of the demons or diablada, a spectacle that you should
not miss.
February FIESTA DE LAS COMADRES Y COMPADRES Ayacucho
This religious festival is celebrated in all churches of Ayacucho.
The participants decorate their bodies with fruit, biscuits and
candy when dancing through the streets of the city.
March/April SEMANA SANTA Ayacucho
The Holy Week (Semana Santa) is the most important religious week
for the people of the Andes. In Ayacucho Peru's biggest religious
festival is celebrated. In the evening of Good Friday the lights
are dimmed in order to commence the procession of Christ of Calvary.
On Easter Monday a procession in the cathedral starts which announces
Christ's resurrection with fireworks. The path is illuminated with
white candles and very impressing to every visitor. Do you want
to learn more about the Peruvian Holy Week.
March/April EL SEÑOR DE TEMBLORES Cusco
Believers tell the legend of an effigy of the crucified Christ that
protected he city from being destroyed by an upcoming earthquake
in 1650. From that year on the natives render homage to the effigy
of Taitacha Temblores, the Lord Of The Earthquake. The Lord Of The
Earthquake is carried out of the church and through the city just
like the Inca did in former times with their mumies of priests and
sovereigns. This procession is also very interesting since the visitor
gets a grip on the merge of Christanity and local Andine religions.
1 to 15 May HOLY FESTIVAL OF THE VIRGIN OF CHAPI Arequipa
This religious feast was initiated by colonial muleteers who were
worshipping the Virgin of Chapi who is said to have performed many
miracles. During that time of the year the town located about 45
km away from Arequipa becomes the center of pilgramage from all
over the country especially from the South. Hundreds of people carry
handmade candles accompanied by fireworks at night.
3 May FIESTA DE LAS CRUCES (Festival of the Crosses) Ayacucho
This festival, also known as travelers' feast, takes place in the
neighborhood of Puca Cruz. The previous day the citizens gather
together in order to worship the crosses by singing and dancing
to folcloristic music. On 3 May all the decorated crosses are carried
to the church of San Francisco de Asís accompanied by musicians.
After the mess and the blessing of the crosses the dancing starts
which lasts until the next day.
24 June INTI RAYMI Cusco
Every year on 24 June Cusco celebrates the festival Inti Raymi,
midwinternight in the Southern hemisphere. Inti Raymi used to be
the largest and most precious Inca festival and is a homage to the
God of the sun. Still today it is one of the most impressing festivals
in Peru. The Inti Raymi takes place in the old fortress Sacsayhuaman
(2 km out of Cusco). Thousands of actors make the past live up once
more and with rituals show their gratefulness to the sungod. Inti
Raymi starts at the church Santo Domingo. With an eloquent and strong
voice the Sapa Inca thanks the sungod for his mercy and this holy
day. After that the procession slowly and dignifiedly moves on to
Sacsayhuaman. The forefront carries the Inca in a royal palanquin.
June CORPUS CHRISTI (Corpus Christi) Cusco
In the region around Cusco this festival is held to honor the Holy
Spirit converted to a continuation of old Inca traditions that praised
the sun. For this occasion all 15 Saints and Virgins of the cathedral
are carried out of the church and decorated with elegant robes,
gold, silver and juwels. In long processions with music, dances
and fireworks they are carried through the city. On the central
square the people put up altars decorated with mirrors, flags, twigs
and pictures. Next to the central square many culinary specialities
are offered and loads of beer and chicha flow. After moving the
pictures into the cathedral the people gather to eat, drink and
feast.
June MOUNTAINEERING WEEK Huaraz
For one week thousands of tourists from all over the world as well
as from within the country gather in order to compete and practice
adventure sports such as mountaineerin, hiking, mountain biking,
rafting, paraglyding, rockclimbing but also to visit the various
archeological sites in the proximity. During the festival diverse
concerts and shows with traditional dances take place.
28 - 29 July FIESTAS PATRIAS Peru
On 28/29 July the whole country celebrates Independence Day. On
27 July various music events take place on different squares and
in parks throughout the country. The next day, before the military
parade starts in the center of Lima, the president visits the Te
Deum in the cathedral. On this day the Feria del Hoger which is
the country's largest fair starts. So does the Feria de La Molina
which is an internationally famous music festival. In different
parts of the country various agriculture and catlle fairs take place
as for example in Cajamarca, Piura and Monsefu.
Last week of September FESTIVAL DE LA PRIMAVERA Trujillo
Spring festival in Trujillo. During the festival many different
competitions offer the opportunity to glance at the varieties of
the typical Marinera dance. That week all streets, flats and houses
are being decorated and bandwagons are drawn through the city accompanied
by processions. The beauty queen is elected, which is as much part
of the Trujillian spring festival as is a competition of drummers
who travel from all over the world in order to compare their skills
with the others.
18 - 28 October SEÑOR DE LOS MILAGROS Lima
On 18, 19 and 28 October Lima celebrates one of the most multifaceted
processions on earth. The whole month through the palanquin of the
"Lord Of Miracles" is dragged to different places in the
city followed by thousands of pilgrims who are dressed in purple
robes. In this period the hawkers offer a very special sweet dish,
the famous Turron de Doña Pepa. In order to honor the Lord
Of Miracles (Señor de los Milagros) the bullfight season
starts in Lima. Worldfamous Toreros are to be seen in the Plaza
de Acho, the oldest corrida stadium of Latin America.
25 - 28 October FIESTA DE YUNGAY
This festival takes place in order to celebrate the anniversary
of the city's political foundation. There are various traditional
shows as well as crafts markets and fairs.
A special event is the ribbon race which is held out on the fields.
Ribbons with the names of every single woman in town are tied to
trees. On its tips a small ring is connected. On horseback the young
men are trying to pass a stick through the hole and take the ring
down. The one who succeeds is supposed to get the love of the girl.
