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Calendar Events Cusco
If you wish to visit Cusco during
any of these festivals please let us know well in advance
because accommodation may be in short supply.
Carnival
The Italian phrase "Carro Navali" or "Naval Cars" was used to
describe the colorful parades that took place in European cities
throughout the ages. This custom was brought to the "new world"
by immigrants; the Spanish, Italians and French. Carnival
parades are not as popular in Peru as they are in other South
American countries but there is the funny and often annoying
custom of playing with and throwing water and powder at each
other.
Holy Week
Holy Week celebrates the resurrection of Christ and is very well
attended by the people of Cusco and indeed throughout Peru.
There are processions in the streets and plazas and even mock
crucifictions. Shrines are carried by devotees through the
streets with bands and thousands of onlookers. This is indeed an
impressive spectacle.
Cruz Velacuy
The festival of Cruz Velacuy (Velacuy Cross) is the day of the
Catholic crosses in Cusco and in many outlying villages. The
date of the festival is not specific as it can vary between May
and June.
It is a ceremony during which each community decorates the cross
belonging to its church and prepares it for a procession to
other churches in neighboring communities. This celebration is
held to thank pre-Hispanic gods for bountiful harvests and also
serves as a setting for folklore shows.
Beer festival
The beer festival held in May every year in Cusco now has an
international reputation. Artists such as Laura Pausini have
been entertaining the vast crowds during the last few years.
Come and visit Cusco during the festival and experience this
great event.
Qoyllor Ritt´I
The Quechua name Qoyllor Ritt´i means "Ice Star" and not "the
Lord of Ice" which is a common mistake. This festival takes
place on the frozen and icy slopes of the huge Ausangate
mountain at altitudes of around 5000 meters. Located 80 Km from
the Cusco and in nighttime temperatures below -4°C people pay
homage to Christian and Prehispanic customs. The mountain gods,
the stars and Christ are all worshipped at the same time. A
pilgrimage takes place which involves men carrying blocks of ice
on their backs for miles and around them colorful dances take
place.
Corpus Christi
The ceremony originally took place in Peru during the Inca
Empire with the mummified bodies of ancient Inca emperors. When
the Spaniards conquered the empire they tried to abolish this
festival by burning all the mummies, changed them to Christian
Saints and other Catholic images. During the modern day festival
there are many processions through the streets of the old city.
Images of Christ and the saints are carried by pilgrims from one
church to another. Special food is prepared for the day and
everyone eats in the streets at stalls. The dish is called "Chiri
Uchu" and means "cold spicy dish" and contains ingredients from
all of the regions of the ancient Inca empire such as cuy
(guinea pig), cheese, partridge (replaced by chicken today),
seaweed, fish eggs, ham and toasted corn. This is today
accompanied by copious amounts of beer.
Inti Raymi
Inti Raymi means "The festival of the Sun", and during the days
of the Inca empire was the most important day of the year. The
festival takes place during the Winter Solstice, on the day
after the longest night in the Southern hemisphere. The festival
represents the rebirth of the sun god Inti and in the ancient
empire all fireplaces of the city were put out and the "starter
fire" was lit in the Koricancha temple which was then taken to
light fires all over the city. Today the festival is still
celebrated and draws visitors from all over the world.
Virgen del Carmen
This is the most important festival held in the town of
Paucartambo close to Cusco. The "Mamacha Carmen" festival takes
place with townspeople performing 15 different dances for four
days non-stop!!!!. Free food and drinks are offered at every
opportunity by the people in charge of each dance. Close by is
the Tres Cruces viewpoint where you can often see spectacular
sunrises over the jungle.
Independence day
The Army of Independence, commanded by the charismatic Argentine
General Jose de San Martin, took control of Lima on the 15th of
July 1821 and together with the most important men in Peruvian
society claimed ideological independence (political independent
was not yet achieved). Political independence from Spain was
achieved on the 28th of July 1821.
Initiation Ceremony - Warachicuy
Every year at age 13 boys belonging to the Inca Empire underwent
an intiation ceremony to celebrate coming of age and greater
responsibility within the family and empire as a whole. The
ceremony took the form of different contests, not simply to
prove bravery, but also to test skills such as building,
drawing, management and command skills, arts and other
disciplines.
Uno Urco
This fiesta takes place near the town of Calca in the heart of
the Sacred Valley and recalls the legend of Uno Urco or "The
Water of Urco", directly related to the fortunes of agriculture
in the Sacred Valley. The son of Inca Wiracocha, Urco Huaranca,
offered his daughter to the first man who could construct water
channels in the area which would irrigate the fields and feed
the population.
"TODOS LOS SANTOS" : November 1st
"Quilla Raymi" : Full Moon of December
"SANTURANTICUY" : December 24th
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