Holidays and Celebrations in Peru
Peru's rich cultural heritage is reflected in numerous holidays and celebrations. From ancient Inca festivals to modern national holidays, these celebrations showcase Peru's diverse traditions and history. The country's holidays blend Catholic Spanish heritage, ancient Andean traditions and modern Peruvian identity, creating unique syncretic forms of celebration.
Holidays Calendar
Click on a holiday to view its details!
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
National Holidays
Peru's national holidays celebrate the country's history and culture throughout the nation.
New Year (Año Nuevo)
January 1
Like most countries, Peruvians celebrate New Year with fireworks, family gatherings and traditional customs such as eating 12 grapes (12 uvas) at midnight, which symbolize the twelve months and bring good luck for the new year. Many Peruvians wear yellow underwear on New Year's Eve, symbolizing luck and happiness. Another popular custom is to run around the block with a bag or suitcase at midnight if people want the new year to be full of travels and adventures. Public celebrations are held in Lima and other major cities in main squares, with concerts, fireworks and DJs. Families usually have dinner together, featuring lechón (roast pig), pavo (turkey) or pollo a la brasa (roast chicken).
Labor Day (Día del Trabajo)
May 1
A national holiday that celebrates workers' rights with parades and demonstrations. Throughout Peru's history, labor movements have played a significant role in social changes. On this day, unions and labor organizations hold demonstrations in Lima's main squares and other cities, demanding better working conditions, wage increases and workers' rights. Many Peruvians use the holiday to spend time with family, go on trips or participate in cultural events.
Peru Independence Days (Fiestas Patrias)
July 28-29
This is the most important national holiday, celebrating Peru's independence from Spain in 1821. The entire country is flooded with the red-white flag - Peru's national colors - displayed on houses, buildings and streets.
On July 28, the president of the republic gives a solemn speech to the nation in Congress, evaluating the country's situation. Large military and civil parades are held in Lima on the Brazil Avenue and in other cities.
July 29 is Armed Forces Day, when special honor is paid to soldiers and those fighting for Peru's defense.
As part of the celebration, Peruvians consume traditional foods such as: Pachamanca (meat and vegetables prepared for underground cooking), Anticuchos (spicy beef heart skewers), Ceviche (Peru's national dish), Chicha morada (sweet drink made from purple corn), Pisco Sour (Peru's national cocktail).
Traditional marinera and huayno dances are performed, and criolla music is played. The celebrations usually last all week, and many Peruvians take vacation to travel with family or celebrate at home.
Saint Rose of Lima (Santa Rosa de Lima)
August 30
Rose (Isabel Flores de Oliva, 1586-1617) was the first canonized saint of the Americas and Peru's patron saint. She was born in Lima and dedicated her life to prayer, penance and serving the poor. She was canonized in 1671. On this day, believers hold processions in Lima's historic center, especially in the Sanctuary of Saint Rose of Lima, where we can see the ruins of the saint's birthplace. Many write wishes on paper and throw them into a well, hoping they will be fulfilled through Saint Rose's intercession. The police also particularly honor this day, as Saint Rose is also the patron saint of the Peruvian national police.
All Saints' Day and Day of the Dead (Día de Todos los Santos y Día de los Difuntos)
November 1-2
A day to remember departed loved ones, when families visit cemeteries, bring flowers (especially chrysanthemums) and candles to graves, and clean and decorate them. According to Peruvian tradition, the dead return to "visit" their families, so many families prepare favorite foods for the departed and set up small altars at home with photos and memories.
Traditional foods for this period: T'anta wawa (bread shaped like a child), Champús (sweet grain drink), Bizcochuelo (cake), Mazamorra morada (purple corn pudding). The ñatitas (skull) cult can also be observed in markets, especially in areas near La Paz and some Andean communities, where people bring out decorated skulls and ask for their blessing.
Immaculate Conception (Inmaculada Concepción)
December 8
An important Catholic holiday celebrating the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. Masses are held in the country's churches, and many Peruvian believers participate in religious processions. This holiday also marks the official beginning of the Christmas season in Peru.
Christmas (Navidad)
December 25
The holiday is celebrated with midnight mass (Misa de Gallo or "cock mass"), which begins on Christmas night. Churches are beautifully decorated, and live nativity scenes (nacimientos) are set up. Family gatherings are held where families have dinner together on December 24, Christmas Eve.
Traditional foods: Pavo (turkey) or lechón (roast pig), Panetón (Italian-origin sweet bread that became Peru's Christmas symbol), Chocolate caliente (hot chocolate), Champagne or sidra (sparkling wine for the midnight toast). At midnight, gifts are opened, brought by Niño Jesús (Baby Jesus), not Santa Claus. Many families sing Christmas carols (villancicos) and play music.
The nativity scene (nacimiento) is an important part of Peruvian Christmas traditions. Many families create detailed miniature scenes that show not only the traditional nativity scene, but also include Peruvian landscapes and figures.
Religious and Regional Celebrations
Peru's religious holidays blend Catholic Spanish heritage and ancient Andean traditions.
Epiphany (Bajada de Reyes)
January 6
Three Kings' Day, when according to tradition the three wise men reached Bethlehem. In many Peruvian families, gifts are exchanged on this day, not at Christmas. Children leave shoes at the door, which are filled with sweets and gifts at night. In some communities, people dressed as Reyes Magos walk the streets and distribute sweets to children.
Candelaria Festival (Fiesta de la Virgen de la Candelaria)
February (first two weeks)
Held in the city of Puno and around Lake Titicaca, this is one of Peru's largest and most colorful ethnographic festivals. The celebration was declared part of UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2014. The festival takes place in honor of the Virgin Mary of Candelaria (Our Lady of Candlemas), but also contains strong ancient Andean elements, especially honoring Pachamama (Mother Earth) and mountain gods.
More than 200 dance groups and 40,000 dancers and musicians participate in the festival, which lasts about two weeks. Spectacular costumes, masks and traditional dances characterize it, such as: Diablada (dance of devils, symbolizing the struggle between good and evil), Morenada (represents the dance of African slaves), Caporales (imitates the dance of slave overseers), Llamerada (traditional dance of llama herders), Kullawada (dance of spinning women).
The festival begins with religious processions on February 2, when the statue of the Virgin of Candelaria is carried through the streets of Puno. This is followed by dance competitions, music concerts and gastronomic presentations.
Easter/Holy Week (Semana Santa)
March/April (varies)
Holy Week is one of Peru's most important religious celebrations. The celebration is particularly spectacular in the cities of Ayacucho and Cusco, where colonial traditions are especially strong.
Ayacucho is known as Peru's Holy Week capital. A ten-day series of celebrations takes place here: Palm Sunday: Jesus' entry into Jerusalem is celebrated; Maundy Thursday and Good Friday: Somber processions carrying statues depicting scenes of Christ's suffering through the streets; Holy Saturday: The night of resurrection with fireworks; Easter Sunday: Joyful celebration when statues representing the risen Christ and the Virgin Mary are brought together in the main square.
Streets are decorated with flower carpets (alfombras), made from colored sawdust, flower petals and grains. These artistic creations are temporary art forms, as the procession passes over them.
Traditional foods during Holy Week: Doce platos (12-course dinner on Maundy Thursday), Meatless dishes on Good Friday, Fanesca (special grain soup, more popular in Ecuador but also consumed in some northern Peruvian areas), Chapla (sweet bread with chapla flavor).
In Cusco, Holy Week is also an outstanding event. The statue of the Lord of Earthquakes (Señor de los Temblores) is brought out of the cathedral on Good Friday. According to 18th-century tradition, this statue saved the city from a strong earthquake. The statue is decorated with red ñucchu flowers, and crowds of believers accompany it through the streets.
Festival of the Crosses (Fiesta de las Cruces)
May 3
A holiday celebrated throughout the country, commemorating Saint Helena finding Christ's cross. This holiday is particularly significant in Andean communities, where crosses are erected on mountaintops and decorated with flowers, textiles and mirrors. Mountain dwellers make pilgrimages (romerías) to the crosses and bring festivities, dances and foods. This holiday syncretically blends Catholic faith with Andean traditions of apus (mountain gods).
Qoyllur Rit'i
May/June (before Pentecost)
An ancient Andean pilgrimage to the slopes of Mount Sinakara (at 6000 meters altitude) in the Cusco region. Tens of thousands make pilgrimage to this celebration, which blends Christian and ancient Andean beliefs. Pilgrims bring ice blocks from the sacred glacier (although this tradition has been limited due to global warming), believed to have healing powers. At the center of the celebration is the image of Taytacha Qoyllur Rit'i (Lord of the Snow Star), a Christ depiction painted on a rock. Spectacular dances are performed, including the dance of ukukuk (dancers representing bears), who serve as intermediaries between supernatural worlds. The celebration was declared part of UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2011.
Inti Raymi (Sun Festival)
June 24
The most important Inca festival, held in honor of Inti (Sun god) on the occasion of the winter solstice (in the Southern Hemisphere). For the Incas, this was the most important holiday of the year, when they purified the earth before the new planting and gave thanks to the Sun.
The Spanish banned this pagan holiday in 1535, but it was revived in 1944 and is now held in Cusco as a large-scale theatrical reenactment.
The reenactment takes place at three locations: 1. Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun): The ceremony begins here in the morning; 2. Cusco Main Square: Middle section; 3. Sacsayhuamán: The main celebration venue.
More than 750 actors participate in the grandiose performance, speaking in Quechua and wearing traditional Inca costumes. The role of Sapa Inca (emperor) is played by a different person each year. At the center of the ceremony is the sacrifice of a llama (now symbolic), when priests "predict" the coming year. Dances, music and traditional rituals complete the celebration, which attracts more than 100,000 spectators worldwide.
This holiday is not only a tourist attraction, but also an important symbol of Peruvian indigenous pride and identity.
Lord of Miracles (Señor de los Milagros)
October
Peru's largest religious holiday, honoring Lima's patron saint, the Lord of Miracles (Señor de los Milagros or Purple Christ). This is the largest Catholic procession in the Americas. According to tradition, in 1655, an African slave from Angola painted a Christ image on a wall in Lima. During the earthquakes of 1655 and 1687, the wall around it collapsed, but the image itself remained untouched, which was considered a miracle.
During October (especially October 18, 19 and 28, and November 1) millions of believers participate in processions in which a copy of the image is carried through the streets of Lima. Believers wear purple clothing, which is the characteristic color of the procession. The procession route lasts more than 24 hours, and believers make vows, follow the cart on foot, some on their knees. Altars (altares) are set up along the route where the image stops and believers can pray.
Traditional foods: Turrón de Doña Pepa (honey-topped puff pastry, made only in October), Anticuchos (spicy heart skewers), Picarones (sweet potato donuts with honey).
Saint Martin's Day (San Martín de Porres)
November 3
Saint Martin (1579-1639) was born in Lima, a mixed-race (Afro-Spanish) Dominican friar known for serving the poor and sick, as well as his love of animals. He was canonized in 1962 and is the patron saint of Peru, as well as the patron saint of mixed-race people, barbers and social justice. On this day, special mass is held in his honor, and many visit the Santo Domingo church in Lima, where his body rests.
Regional and Cultural Celebrations
Peru's regional festivals showcase the unique cultures of different parts of the country.
Marinera Festival (Festival de la Marinera)
January (last week), Trujillo
An international competition and cultural event honoring the marinera, Peru's national dance. The marinera is an elegant courtship dance that combines Spanish, Moorish and indigenous influences. Dancers from around the world come to Trujillo to showcase their skills. Men traditionally wear white clothing and ponchos, while women wear colorful, layered skirts that they gracefully twirl during the dance. The use of the handkerchief (pañuelo) is a central element of the dance.
Criolla Song Day (Día de la Canción Criolla)
October 31
A day dedicated to criolla music and culture, celebrating Spanish-Peruvian traditions. Peñas (traditional music venues) are visited where waltz, marinera and tondero music is heard. This day celebrates Peruvian coastal culture and musical heritage. Famous criolla musicians give concerts, and radio stations play criolla music all day. Traditional foods such as anticuchos, tamal and cau cau are consumed.
Mistura (Gastronomic Festival)
September, Lima
Peru's largest gastronomic festival, which has become one of Latin America's most important culinary events. Hundreds of thousands of visitors come to sample Peru's diverse cuisine, which combines indigenous, Spanish, African, Italian, Chinese and Japanese influences.
The festival showcases: Foods by Peru's regions (coast, highlands and jungle), Traditional dishes (ceviche, anticuchos, pachamanca, juane), Modern fusion cuisine (innovations by Peru's famous chefs), Local products (exotic fruits, vegetables and fish from the Amazon).
Grape and Wine Festival (Vendimia)
March, Ica
The Ica region, Peru's most important grape and wine producing area, celebrates the harvest festival annually. The festival includes traditional grape stomping (pisa de uva), wine and pisco (Peruvian grape brandy) tasting, and the selection of the harvest queen (Reina de la Vendimia). Many wineries and pisco-producing farms open their doors to visitors, showcasing traditional production processes. Cultural presentations, horse parades and the famous Afro-Peruvian festejo dance are also part of the event.
Summary
The diversity of Peru's holidays and celebrations reflects the country's rich cultural mosaic. These events are not only spectacular experiences for tourists, but also fundamental expressions of Peruvian identity and community cohesion.
The unique synthesis of ancient Andean traditions, Catholic Spanish heritage and modern Peruvian culture makes Peru's world of holidays unique and fascinating. Throughout the year, there is practically no month when there is not some significant holiday or festival in Peru, allowing visitors to gain deep insight into the country's living traditions and contemporary culture.