Lent, Holy Week and Easter is a period in which Peru erupts in many demonstrations of faith. The Spanish conquistadores brought Christianity with them in the 16th century to Peru, and though the country is now a predominantly Catholic nation, some signs of their pagan background are visible too. The city of Cusco for example, praises both Jesus and the Lord of Earthquakes in a procession that dates back to a devastating earthquake in the 17th century. Commonly across the country, a statue of Jesus riding a donkey is paraded down the streets on Palm Sunday. Then during Holy Week (Semana Santa), the most important date in the Christian calendar, the country is filled with processions, featuring carpets of flowers, incense, candles and food.
The city of Ayacucho is reputed to have the most traditional, passionate and exciting Easter celebrations in Peru. The town has thirty-three churches, one for each year of Jesus’ life, with each one organizing their own processions and celebrations. On Holy Wednesday, effigies of Jesus and the Virgin Mary are carried through the town by the local citizens, while the many visitors form crowds of spectators. The city of Arequipa however, is known for their three-hour long procession on Good Friday lead by bands and drummers. On Holy Saturday, locals from Arequipa burn a Judas effigy made of fireworks at the midnight mass, affirming Jesus’ resurrection. Across Peru Easter Sunday is celebrated with a lot of wine, food, and the traditional dish of the seven meat soup and empanadas.
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