FESTIVITIES IN CUSCO

FESTIVITIES IN JANUARY

Day 1: Change of authorities in rural communities with the transfer of the Staff, the symbol of authority, in rural areas of Cusco. Kinkuy, a demonstration and competition of skills in agricultural and livestock activities, organized by community members in rural areas of Cusco.
Day 06: Last day of the exhibition of Jesus’ births in temples and private homes in the city of Cusco.
Day 6: Theatrical adoration of the Christ Child and the Three Wise Men, accompanied by native dances and skits. San Blas neighborhood, Cusco. Epiphany procession in the town of Ollantaytambo (Urubamba). Procession of the Christ Child in military uniform accompanied by folk dances.
Day 20: Saint Sebastian, patron saint of the district that bears his name. Novenas and masses in Quechua, procession accompanied by traditional dance troupes. (Saint Sebastian – Cusco)
Day 27: The following Sunday, Pera Chapchy, folk dance festival. (San Sebastián – Cusco)

February

Day 2: Day of the Virgin of Purification at the Church of San Pedro in Cusco and in the district of Saylla – Cusco. Day of the Virgin of Candelaria in Caninkunka – Cusco
January 28 to February 9 (variable): Carnival Festival in the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

March

Day 19: Saint Joseph’s Day at the parish of Saint Christopher with the burning of fireworks.
Holy Week 20-27: Palm Sunday – Procession of the Lord through the streets of San Sebastián on a donkey, accompanied by folkloric groups. (San Sebastián, Cusco)
- Holy Monday.- Procession of the Lord of the Earthquakes, sworn Patron of the City of Cusco.
- Holy Thursday – Exposition of the Eucharist
- Good Friday – Procession of the Lord of the Holy Sepulchre.
Days 23 and 24: Anniversary of the Spanish founding of the city of Cusco

Day 2: “Cruz Velacuy,” or the vigil of the Cross, takes place in Cusco and the surrounding provinces. Crosses are venerated in churches, private homes, bridges, and along community roads. The cross is adorned with colorful garments and gold lace donated by devotees. The cross is considered a facilitator of construction projects and a protector of homes and houses in both rural and urban areas.
Day 15: Religious festival of the patron saint of farmers, San Isidro Labrador, takes place in the provinces of Cusco
Day 24: Lord of Qoylluriti. Sanctuary of the Lord of Qoylluriti in the town of Ocongate, a 5-hour drive from Cusco at an altitude of 5,000 meters above sea level. This place exemplifies the religious syncretism of the Andes. Among the indigenous communities that attend is the K’eros, the most conservative, who bring troupes and folk dances. A very peculiar custom is the game of the alacitas (small ropes).
Day 26: Corpus Christi. Corpus Christi, a festival held in the city of Cusco, has its origins in the time of the Incas, who held parades of panakas (royal lineages) carrying the mummies of Inca rulers dressed in the most colorful costumes. On its main day, Thursday, a procession of images brought from the principal parishes takes place. There is also an open-air exhibition and sale of the traditional dish “Chiri Uchu.”

June

Day 24: INTI RAYMI – The most important Inca ritual venerating the sun god “Inti.” It begins at Qoricancha, presided over by the Inca and his imperial retinue. They then move to the Plaza Mayor to perform an act of invocation to the Sun God, continuing to the esplanade of Sacsayhuaman, where the main ceremony takes place. A llama is sacrificed to ensure a bountiful agricultural year, followed by a festival of folk dances and general festivities. In San Jerónimo, Maras, and Yucay, the Feast of Saint John is celebrated to promote the reproduction of livestock, an occasion on which the cattle are branded. (Cusco).
Day 29: Ollantay In Ollantaytambo, the Qhapaq Raymi festival, commemoration of the drama “Ollantay”.

July

Day 16: Virgen del CarmenFestival of the Virgin of Carmen in Paucartambo; “Folkloric Province”, 110 km from Cusco.

August (Month of esoteric ritual practices)

Day 15: Feast of the Virgin of the Assumption or Asunta, celebrated in several provinces near Cusco
Day 28: Last Sunday of the month – Inca Festival “Warachicuy” in honor of adolescence. The young people, in open competition, demonstrate their agility, skill, and strength to acquire citizenship.

September

Day 08: Feast of the Virgin of the Nativity celebrated with folk dances in the Church of Almudena (Cusco)
Day 14: Festival of the Sanctuary of the Lord of Huanca, agricultural fair in the district of San Salvador, 1 hour’s journey from Cusco.
Day 30: Saint Jerome’s Day, a religious and folkloric festival in the district of the same name, (Cusco).

October

Day 04: Religious festival of San Francisco in the towns of Tinta, Urcos and Maras in Cusco.
Day 07: Feast of the Virgin of the Rosary in the towns of Combapata, Urcos and Checacupe.

November

Day 01: All Saints’ Day – Day of the Dead, visits are made to the deceased in the cemeteries
Day 02: All Saints’ Day – Day of the Living, the typical dish for this day is roast suckling pig. During the month, groups of friends in private homes organize traditional bread doll baptisms (wawa t’anta) with comical characters.

Day 24: Grand craft fair “Santu rantikuy” in the city of Cusco, buying and selling of Christmas Saints and crafts alluding to these traditional festivities
Day 25: Cusco Christmas, display of nativity scenes in churches and private homes.