Warachicuy

Location: Cusco
Date: August and/or September

This festival dates from the Incas. Annually the Warachikuy festival, called "party in order to arm gentlemen" by the Spaniards, was carried out. It was something like an "initiation" ceremony in which young men got their first Wara (breechcloth). In order to get the "wara" the young men had to pass different athletic tests and sham battles; after successfully passing all tests they got their citizenship and ability for getting married and warring.