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Festivities Calendar
January - 1 - Entrega de Varas (Cuzco and surrounding areas) A Ceremony in each village dating back to the pre-Hispanic era to commemorate the assumption of power by the highest authority, or Varayoc, who receives a scepter from his predecessor symbolizing power. The scepters, made of native wood species such as tucuma, black hualtaco (tagetes minuta), huallacán or quince, measure approximately 1 meter in length and have silver and gold inlays. - 20 - Chiaraje (Canas) A war game, or pucllay, in which the peace-loving menbers of the community do battle to enhace the fertility of the soil. Those who occupy the largest area of land and force the enemy to retreat, win. The war game takes place on the Chiaraje plains (4,700 masl) in Canas province, which is accessible by road. March - April Easter Monday Señor de los Temblores (Cuzco) Worship of the effigy of Taitacha Temblores (Lord of Earthquakes). This ceremony is an expression of Andean-Christian syncretism. The effigy is taken out in a procession from the Cathedral of Cuzco, which was built on top of the temple of the god Wiracocha, and is paraded around the streets of the city as the faithful throw ñucchu flowers - in ancient times used as an offering to the Inca gods-symbolizing the blood of Christ. May 5 - Fiesta de las Cruces (Cuzco and surrounding areas) A ceremony in which each community decorates the cross of its church and prepares it for its procession to churches in neighboring communities. This celebration, held in gratitude to pre-Hispanic gods for bountiful harvests, also serves as a setting for folklore shows. Date varies Qoyllur Rit'i Pilgrimage (Ocongate, Quispicanchis)
The largesy native Indian festival in the Americas. In this mass pilgrimage to te sanctuary of Sinakara, on the day of the Holy Trinity, a group of villagers climbs snow-capped Mount Ausangate (6,362 masl) in search of the Estrella de Nieve (Snow Star) resting in large blocks of ice, that will then be taken by the villagers, on their backs to their communities, to irrigate their land. June - 24 - Inti Raymi (Cuzco)
An Inca festival dedicated to the Sun god, Inti Raymi is held at the beginning of the Winter Solstice. It is one of the Andean events par excellence and is held on the esplanade of the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, where over 500 participants re-enact the ritual Sun worship. The celebration begins with the arrival of the Inca at Sacsayhuaman who, after having been carried in a throne from Koricancha, in Cuzco, presides in his regal glory until sunset. Date Varies The Corpus Christi (Cuzco) A Catholic feast of the Eucharist dating back to the colonial period, that follows the custom of parading the mummified remains of past Inca rulers. The pilgrimage is made 60 days after Easter Sunday, when the images of 15 saints and virgins from the varios districts of Cuzco arrive in procession at the Cathedral to "greet" the body of Christ, which is kept in a spectacular gold tabernacle weighing 26 kilograms and measuring 1.2 meters tall. July - 15, 16 Virgen del Carmen (Paucartambo) Festival of Mamacha Carmen, patron saint of the mestizos. The effigy of the Virgin is carried in a procession to bless those in attendance, who sing in Quechua, and to ward off demons. Those in attendance, while wearing traditional Inca and colonial garb, perform gymnastics and daring manouever on the rooftops of houses. At the end of the procession, a war is waged against the demons, from which the faithful emerge triumphant. October 10 - Virgen del Rosario (Quispicanchis and Canchis) In the districts of Urcos (province of Quispicanchis), as well as Combate and Checaupe (province of Canchis), homage is paid to the patron saint of the town with processions, fairs, bullfights and hearty pachamancas, meals prepared in shadow holes in the ground and cooked over hot stones. December - 24 - Santuranticuy (The Sale of Saints) A festival dating back to the colonial period, it now ranks as one of the largest handicrafts fairs in Peru. It is held every year in Cuzco's main Square, where the painters of religious images and artesans offer a wide range of Christmas figurines to go with the nativity scenes found in homes and chapels across Cuzco.
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