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The Festivity of “the Virgen de la
Candelaria" is Celebrated Every Year From the 8th to
the14th of February in Puno ( 1\2 Hour by Airplane From
Cusco to Juliaca) .It's a Very Interesting Traditional
Celebration With a Lot of Dancing in Which the Dancers
Show Decorated and Authentic Masks. The Most Famous is
the "Diablada" (Devil Dance).
"Inti Raymi" (The Sun Celebration)
It's the Most Important Celebration in Cusco .Every Year
on the 24th of June, This Area Comes to Life. According
to the Ancient Chroniclers, These Celebrations Were
Linked to the Harvest and Provided the Opportunity to
the Incas to Express Their Appreciation to Their Gods:
the Sun, the Moon, the Thunder, Huanacauri and the
Mother Earth For the Products Which Ensured the
Sustenance of the Population. Singing, Dancing and
Consuming the Sacred Fermented Chicha of Corn Which are
Integral Parts of This Celebration. The IntIRaymi
Ceremonies are Performed in Several Towns Designated for
This Purpose. But the Most Important Ritual Event is the
Beginning of the Harvest. In the Beginning of the
Harvest, the Youth Chosen for Military or Political
Activities go to Sausero to Collect the Corn. This Area
is Near the Temple of the Sun or Coricancha. The
Tourists go up to the Sacsayhuaman Fortress Where They
Can Admire the Performances and Dances. The Dancers Wear
Traditional Clothing of the Incas and the Inca Reenacts
the Sacrifice of a Llama, Using a Knife, to Offer the
Heart to the Sun. The Festivity Continues all Week Long.
Corpus Christi.
Since Early Colonial Times, the Feast of the Corpus
Christi has Been Celebrated Throughout the Andes. This
Festivity, which is one of the most Widespread in
America, Began in the Middle Age. It Provides Faithful
Catholics the Opportunity to be United Around the
Eucharist’s. In Cuzco, the Festivities Last a Week and
are Attended by Many Visitors. During the Celebrations,
Most of the Sacred Images Which are Normally Displayed
in the Churches of the City, are Joined Together in the
Cathedral. Each Image is Accompanied by Members of the
Brotherhood Dedicated to This Figure in Their Respective
Parishes. The Most Important Event of the Festivity is
the Moment When all of the Faithful, the Musicians and
the Saints Take Part in the Procession Around the Main
Square. Some of the Members of the Brotherhood Wear
Special Clothing or Carry Elegant Wax Candles,
Embroidered Images and Standards. Altars Such as Those
Traditionally Used in Spain and Introduced in America
With Images of the Saints and the Mirrors Which
Fascinated the Indians of the Colony are Set up in the
Corners of the Plaza. During the Festivity of Corpus
Christi, a Fair is Held in the City at the Same Time to
Sell Products From the Valley.
Virgen del Carmen in Paucartambo
There are Many Versions of the Origin of the Festivity.
Initially it Was the Spaniards Who Introduced the
Practice by Paying Respect to This Virgin in all the
Towns of the Colony. For This Reason, Festivities were
Celebrated Throughout America. In the Town it is said
That in the 16th Century, Two Virgins Arrived to
Southern Peru From Spain. One of Them to the Town of
Puno and Another to the Town of Paucartambo. Some
Claimed That the Most Beautiful Virgin Remained in
Paucartambo. This Caused a Conflict Between the Two
Towns and The Residents of Puno Tried to Steal Her.
Usually in the Andean Religious Festivities There is a
Sense of Competition With Other Festival Days. In This
Case, the Lovely Clothing as Well as the Organization
and Discipline of the Dancers, Has Made the Festivity of
Paucartambo One of the Most Important in the Region.
Presently, There are 15 Groups Which Participate. It is
Celebrated Each Year From July 15th to the 19th .The
Celebration Held in the Town Includes a Recreation of
Historical Events, Which are Traditionally Staged in
Several Scenes. Each Group Recreates Moments and Events
Which are Interpreted in Mythical Cycles. The Complexity
of, the Musical and its Symbols, the Costumes, the
Dances and the Symbiosis Between Actor and Spectator are
the Reasons Why the Festivity of Paucartambo Attracts
Many Tourists. During the First Dayof the Festivity Many
Tourists Take Advantage of Their Stay in Paucartambo to
Visit the Tres Cruces, Where They Can Admire the Horizon
of the Amazon and the Phenomenon of the Sun Dance at
Sunrise.
June and July are the Most Interesting Months to Visit
Cuzco Because There are a Lot of Celebrations and
Traditional Dances Such as : "Corpus Christi" Religious
Festivity , IntiRaimi (See Above) , "Virgen del Carmen"
From the 15th to the 17th of July With Exhibitions of
Allegorical Masks Specially in the City of Paucartambo
(250 km From Cusco) .
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