Even though its name brings the image of the Brasilian carnival, it is very different. The carnavales celebration in Cusco, involves the whole of the population of Cusco, it does not discriminate age, social condition or gender.
The carnival celebration comes originally from Europe; nevertheless, in Peru and particularly in Cusco, with time and the strong influence of the Andean culture, this celebration has taken its own unique manifestation, far from the typical European tradition.
Carnavales takes place in Cusco, coincidently during the summer months of February and March, and the praising Andean ritual to mother earth, for the early harvest. All this through the manifestation of water abundance. In the city, adults, teenagers and children fill small balloons with water and throw them at each other, as a way of refreshing each other on a sunny day, while the water drips to the ground and nurtures the earth.
In Cusco, Carnavales officially starts with Thursday of Compadres and Thursday of Comadres, which roughly resembles the act of celebrating the day of men and the day of women, giving everyone the chance to play games and celebrate each other.
The final celebration takes place on March 1st, everyone is allowed to throw water at everyone on the streets and neighborhoods and with it the official ending of the Carnavales celebration.
Holy week, a traditional catholic ritual, heritage from the Spanish colonization, which, is celebrated for 8 days. It starts with Sunday of Palms on the 14th of April, recreating the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem, continues with Holy Monday, mostly known as the day the city receives the blessings of the Lord of Tremors, a particular tradition only celebrated in Cusco. Continues with Holy Thursday, a day when all cusquenians simulate the last supper of Jesus and his disciples, by preparing 12 different dishes at their households, and eat them with family and close friends as a sign of solidarity and happiness as it was done in the actual historical event. None of the dishes contain meat.
During all the week, delicious pastry is made and sold in all Cusco, specially prepared for this celebration. We will find the sweet empanadas made out of wheat flour, the delicate suspiros, made with egg yolk and sugar, condesas and maicillos, made of wheat flour and butter.
After the grand banquet on Thursday, on Good Friday, everyone fasts, as a sign of respect, because on that day Jesus is arrested and condemned to die. On Saturday, Jesus is crucified, dead and buried, this day people retreat for prayer. Finally the people welcome Sunday of Resurrection or Easter, with song and liturgical celebration.
During these days, processions and the dramatization of the life and death of Jesus take place, in different churches and catholic schools of the city. The Via Crucis.
In October of 1979, two young language teachers, Esther and Julian became pioneers opening the first Language school in Cusco, where more than two foreign languages were taught! Excel instantly became the most popular language school in Cusco, and many cusqueños felt pleased to have at hand a language school where they could study up to four languages!
A few years later, Julian and Esther, decided Excel was ready to open up to foreign students and so the first Spanish school in Cusco appeared, it was a total success and now locals and foreign visitors had the wonderful opportunity to study at Excel while enjoying Cusco, the Meca of the Inca culture
Excel, currently offers English, Portuguese and Spanish as second languages. Peruvians and foreign students feel happy to choose us every time! We are more than thrilled to keep on with our rewarding task of teaching languages to many generations to come as we have during the past 40 years.
We celebrate the Inmaculate Conception in Perú and many other Latin American countries, on December 8th. An important catholic festivity, which reaffirms the Virgin Mary’s purity and sanctity, whom is believed to have been conceived, free from sin and shame.
On this Day, many children are baptized, and others receive their first communion. In the districts of Yauri and Santos, in Cusco, bullfights take place. Whilst, in the rest of the country people celebrate the Virgin with folkloric dances.
Every 24th of December, Cusco’s Main Square becomes the stage of the most important fair of the year. The Santurantikuy fair (translated from Quechua as “saints for sale”) dates back from colonial time. It gathers artisans from different areas of the region and important artisan traditional families such as the Mendivil, Olave and Mérida.
The Santurantikuy fair is a vivid portrait of the creative and harmonious fusion that has taken place between the Andean and Spanish tradition and idiosyncracy, the result is the Csuquenian culture. Santurantikuy adapts in versatile way to the western celebration of Christmas, its main figure is the porcelain representation of baby Jesus, in different sizes, clothes and positions. You will also see miniature figures of all the historical characters present on the day of Jesus birth, the Virgin Mary, Joseph, the shepherds their herds, the 3 wise men, and animals of the region of Cusco. Furthermore, you will see miniature versions of all the things that people wish to receive as gifts, and they can buy them and put them near the figure of baby Jesus as a fulfilled wish.
Without a doubt, the Santurantikuy fair is worth the visit!
Every January 6th, in Cusco, as in many other Christian Latin American countries, festivities do not end with Christmas celebration, it continues with the arrival of the gifts of the three wise men or the “Three Kings Day”, on January 6th. The story tells us that three wise kings, Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar in behalf of the three nations of Europe, Arabia and Africa, guided by David’s star, arrived at Bethlehem to honor the newly born Jesus with his gifts, which is why it is also known as the Feast of the Epiphany.
In Cusco, the “Three Kings Day” is portrayed in the city’s plazas and churches, and children receive gifts as well!
In some small towns outside the city, people celebrate this day with their local customs. In Ollantaytambo, the festivity starts on the 5th of January and it lasts until the 8th, dances in their best traditional clothing and typical food is served.
