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In a traditional Cusco festival the sacred and the profane are integrated in a single manifestation of vitality, pride and happiness.
Christian festivals were based on the pre-Hispanic tradition of the Taki (means "sing and dance", in Quechua) dedicated to pagan gods.
The celebrations boast a rich programme, which includes parades, dances, processions, pilgrimages, dinners, handicrafts and agricultural fairs and other events which freely alternate between sensuality and spirituality, circular order and temporary chaos, the past and the future.
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The festivals of Cusco form a radiant rainbow, whose colours bring together sounds,
flavours, textures, scents and a vigorous sense of lively theater to reinvent
the history and producing a synthesis of Man and the Earth.
Below is a summary of the most important festivals of the year:
|
| Festival |
Description |
Place |
Dates |
| Surrenders of Sticks |
The power in a stake |
Cusco |
January 1 |
| Slope of Kings and The Visit of the Wine Men |
Folkloric and religious festival |
Ollantaytambo |
January 6 |
| Typical Births |
Exhibitions of typical birth in churches and homes of Cusco |
Cusco |
Until January 6 |
| The Chiaraje |
A ritual battle |
Canas |
January 20 |
| Carnivals |
Party for happiness |
Cusco |
February and/or March |
| Lord. of Tremors |
The brown Christ and the crimson flower |
Cusco |
The second part of March and the first week of April |
| Cruz Velacuy |
Party of the crosses and Andean spirit |
Cusco |
May and/or June |
| Qoyllur Rit’i |
The biggest indigenous pilgrimage in America |
Quispicanchis |
The first week of May |
| Cusco Beer Festival |
Music concerts of international and national groups |
Cusco |
Last week of May |
| Festival of OllantayRaymi |
Staging of Ollantay drama, dances and typical dishes |
Ollantaytambo |
The first part of June |
| Inti Raymi |
The Inca festival of the Sun |
Cusco |
June 24 |
| Corpus Christi |
The steps of the saints and the virgins |
Cusco |
June |
| Virgin of the Carmen |
Mamacha Carmen |
Paucartambo |
The second week (15-16) of July |
| Corpus of Santiago |
A religious festivity |
Cusco |
July 25 |
| Corpus of Santa Ana |
A religious festivity performed in the chapel of San Cristobal |
Cusco |
July 26 |
| Corpus of San Cristobal |
A religious festivity performed in the chapel of Santa Ana |
Cusco |
August 2 |
| Warachikuy |
Dramatisation of Warachikuy in Sacsayhuaman |
Cusco |
August and/or September |
| Corpus of Almudena |
A religious festivity celebrated in the church of Almudena |
Cusco |
September 8 |
| Lord of Huanca |
Pilgrimages and agriculture fairs |
San Salvador |
September 14 |
| Corpus of San Jeronimo |
A religious festivity celebrated in the district of San Jeronimo |
Cusco |
September 30 |
| Virgin of the Rosary |
Taurine fairs and preparation of Pachamancas |
Quispicanchis and Canchis |
October 10 |
| All the Saints' Day |
Visits to cemeteries, Preparationj of the suckling pig |
Cusco |
November 1 - 2 |
| Christmas in Cusco |
Time of integration and artistic splendour |
Cusco |
December 24-25 |
| Santuranticuy Fair |
The sale of saints |
Cusco |
December 24 |
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