The festivity of Corpus Christi means literally “Body of Christ” in Latin. This religious festival is celebrated in Christian countries, however, it was established in Peru after the Spaniards conquered Latin America.
Nowadays, The Corpus Christi celebration in Cusco, Peru is a huge celebration that attracts locals, foreigners, believers, and nonbelievers. This party combines, dance, music, food, and traditions you should know. In this article, we’ll briefly give you details about this distinctive celebration
The origin of the Corpus Christi festival in Cusco dates back hundreds of years ago from the Spaniards invaded Peru. In the Inca empire, the Incas used to worship the land, animals, the moon, and their ancestors. However, the sun was their supreme deity, they called it “inti”
Among the numerous Inca celebrations, a splendid procession would occur on these days across the Inca Empire, among the many Inca festivities. "Mallquis," the mummies of their deceased rulers, paraded through Cusco's streets.
Because these mummies were believed to be just as strong as they had been in life, the families who cared for them cherished and indulged them. They would be dressed in their finest blankets and given the most exquisite gold and silver decorations.
When the Spaniards arrived, they were horrified by these acts and believed them to be sacrilegious and heathen. As a result, they decided to stop this practice. After being captured, the Mallquis were brought to various locations where they would be burned, destroyed, or reduced to mere carcasses. In an attempt to convert Indigenous people to Christianity, catholic effigies of 15 saints and virgins replace the “mallquis” in the festivals.
“La entrada de los Santos” (The entry of the saints) is when each saint and virgin effigy leaves its own Parish heading to St Claire’s arch. All of them are escorted by their devotes. These loyal supporters walk long distances, carrying the effigies on their backs, some of them may walk more than 10 kilometers carrying the heavy sculptures.
To make the logistics of carrying such a huge statue while musicians play their music and dancers invade the streets, the “carguyoq” play an important role. Every year, these people are in charge of seeing all the details concerning each statue, and every year a different carguyoq is chosen.
After that, they proceed to the "San Pedro" church, where you can see the formal transfer of the cathedral keys from "San Pedro" to "San Antonio." Once all of the saints have gathered, the procession continues flooding the traditional Andean streets of Cusco until they arrive at the Plaza de Armas (Cusco main square) Near the main square, there’s the Cusco cathedral, where they will remain for a week until the “Octava,” or the eighth week following Easter.
The date of the 15 saints' March around Cusco's main square is known as "La Octava." Usually starting afternoon, the event lasts for up to five hours. Later, all 15 saints return to their respective parishes, carried again by their devotees. The music, dance, and joy don’t stop until getting to every parish where the saints will remain until the next year’s corpus christi.
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The Corpus Christi saints’ effigies |
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San Antonio (Saint Anthony) From The San Cristobal Parish |
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San Jeronimo (Saint Jerome) from the District Parish of San Jeronimo |
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San Cristóbal (Saint Christopher) from the Parish of San Cristobal |
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San Sebastian (Saint Sebastian) from the District Parish of San Sebastian |
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Santa Barbara (Saint Barbara) from the District Parish of Poroy |
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Santa Ana (Saint Anne) from the Parish of Santa Ana |
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Apostol Santiago (Apostle James) from the Parish of Santiago |
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San Blas (Saint Blas) from the Parish of San Blas |
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San Pedro (Saint Peter) from the Parish of San Pedro |
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San José (Saint Joseph) from the Parish of Belén |
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Virgen de la Natividad (Our Lady of the Nativity) from the Parish of Almudena |
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Virgen de los Remedios (Our Lady of Remedies) from the Church of Santa Catalina |
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Virgen Purificada (Holy Virgin) from the Parish of San Pedro |
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Virgen de Belen (Our Lady of Bethlehem) from the Parish of Belen |
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Virgen de la Inmaculada Concepción (Our Lady of Immaculate Conception) from “Basilica de la Catedral” |
During this time, you’ll see some traditional foods in Cusco, such as the “Chiri Uchu”, which in English means “cold dish”. This meal is served on a huge plate with a variety of meals, such as beef, jerky, guinea pig, and chicken.
This traditional dish includes as well toasted corn, fish roe, and “torreja” an omelet made of yellow squash, corn flour, potatoes, and green onions. The ingredients are arranged in a towering stack, with hot chili peppers on top.
Other traditional Cusco dishes are “lechon” (oven-baked pork), “chicharron” (deep-fried pork) “cuy al horno” (oven-baked guinea pig). The traditional Incas’ corn beer, chicha, or its lighter and sweeter version made of strawberry, frutillada are also in season. A few days after Corpus Christi, another huge celebration will take place in June, the Inti Raymi. If you come to Peru at this time, make sure you participate in the Festival of the sun too!
Viagens Machu Picchu can assist you in visiting Cusco during this party and other Peruvian celebrations. See our destinations to know more about Peru.
