If you’re studying Spanish in Peru this Easter season, don’t miss the chance to experience Semana Santa, aka Holy Week. Semana Santa is a week-long religious event including vigils, processions, and special Masses, all designed to commemorate the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
While Semana Santa is a Catholic holiday, in Peru many cities have given this old-world religious event their own new-world twists. Here is a sampling of the most unique Peruvian Holy Week traditions.
Ayacucho
Around the world, Catholics commemorate Jesus’ crucifixion on Good Friday and his resurrection on Easter Sunday. In Ayacucho, the local twist is that people believe that during the time between the crucifixion and the resurrection, there was no such thing as sin. Therefore in Ayacucho Holy Saturday is a wild, anything-goes party day, not a day of rest.
Cusco
Normally tradition calls for a fast on Good Friday, as a sign of grief for Jesus’ death. In Cusco, this tradition gets stood on its head and locals have a feast instead, dining on 12 traditional dishes.
Huaraz
In the city of Huaraz, the traditional Holy Week processionals are given a bit of added flair. The town prepares for the processionals all year long, and they culminate with the release of thousands of live birds.
Tarma
In this scenic Andes city, the routes of the processionals are prepared by citizens who create carpets and archways of flowers in the streets. The people keep the creative juices flowing by sipping calientitos, or hot teas with cane liquor.
If you’re studying Spanish in Peru this Easter season, don’t miss the chance to experience Semana Santa, aka Holy Week. Semana Santa is a week-long religious event including vigils, processions, and special Masses, all designed to commemorate the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
While Semana Santa is a Catholic holiday, in Peru many cities have given this old-world religious event their own new-world twists. Here is a sampling of the most unique Peruvian Holy Week traditions.
Ayacucho
Around the world, Catholics commemorate Jesus’ crucifixion on Good Friday and his resurrection on Easter Sunday. In Ayacucho, the local twist is that people believe that during the time between the crucifixion and the resurrection, there was no such thing as sin. Therefore in Ayacucho Holy Saturday is a wild, anything-goes party day, not a day of rest.
Cusco
Normally tradition calls for a fast on Good Friday, as a sign of grief for Jesus’ death. In Cusco, this tradition gets stood on its head and locals have a feast instead, dining on 12 traditional dishes.
Huaraz
In the city of Huaraz, the traditional Holy Week processionals are given a bit of added flair. The town prepares for the processionals all year long, and they culminate with the release of thousands of live birds.
Tarma
In this scenic Andes city, the routes of the processionals are prepared by citizens who create carpets and archways of flowers in the streets. The people keep the creative juices flowing by sipping calientitos, or hot teas with cane liquor.