Why spend Christmas and New Year in Cusco -Peru?
Traveling to Peru at Christmas, what could be nicer? Being a mostly Christian country, Peru celebrates Christmas with all the traditions that it brings. Festivals abound with most towns decorated with Christmas tinsel and fairy lights giving a special feel to the main square.
Cusco for example comes alive at Christmas with special church services and parades through the streets. Christmas time is one of the in Cusco. You can experience the festive side of the Imperial City. Also, why not enjoy Christmas in the traditional Andean way.
One of Cusco’s most beautiful places is the city’s main square. During the festive season, its center is home to numerous Christmas Markets. At Christmas, Cusco’s main square is beautifully decorated. You will see lights and traditional decorations on the arches of the houses.
To see more of these beautiful decorations, you will need to visit the churches of Cusco, making sure that you don’t miss the Temple of Santo Domingo where you can see fantastic Cusco nativity scenes made with creativity and tradition.
Do not miss the Christmas markets in Cusco at Christmas. These showcase the local people’s magnificent ability to create art pieces such as sculptures, textiles, paintings, etc. The biggest Christmas market takes place on December 24 in the city’s main square, where you will see the best of Cusco art. This market has been taking place since the 16th century and is mainly religious. People often visit this market to buy sculptures of saints, angels, and animals. People can use these pieces in nativity scenes or to decorate their homes. This market lasts all day and is a must for those looking to get to know the Cusco festivities.
Food
The Christmas festivities have their traditional food. Many people buy the conventional Panettone. This is fruit cake is often enjoyed with a cup of hot chocolate, as well as the traditional chicken soup. This delicious soup has been a part of family traditions for many years and normally served on Christmas Eve. There is also a wide variety of Peruvian dishes to try at Christmas time. If you want a reason to visit Cusco city, the delicious food is more than enough.
Nativity Scenes.
Churches are also open to the public, featuring ornaments and nativity scenes. You cannot miss these beautiful scenes if you plan to spend Christmas in Cusco.
Family Traditions
Families usually visit the Catholic Church in their neighborhood and participate in the Christmas Eve ceremony. Then, in their homes they start the famous Peruvian Christmas dinner, usually at 10 p.m.
After dinner, the family stays awake until midnight to celebrate Christmas. At midnight, people exchange gifts and light fireworks.
The next day on Christmas, people usually serve stuffed turkey and a variety of traditional salads at lunch. Later is the ideal time for families to go out and enjoy the firework shows.
Christmas in Cusco is full of wonderful traditions. There is plenty of Christmas turkey will all the trimmings. Restaurants are open to cater for the tourists, some you may need to make a reservation. Enjoy Christmas in the high Andean town of Cusco.
New Year in Cusco
New Year is the most celebrated festival worldwide, where people typically reflect on and commemorate the failures and achievements they experienced throughout the year. However, the celebration varies in each country, shaped by culture and way of life. Nevertheless, the sentiment is universal—bidding farewell to one year and welcoming another, illustrating the temporality of life and its fleeting nature.
Cusco is a city rich in history and culture, once the capital of the Incas, and is considered one of the places with the most natural and cultural wealth in Peru. It boasts ancient architecture, including Inca temples and palaces, and holds invaluable historical heritage. It is a favorite tourist destination for both national and international travelers. Therefore, considering celebrating New Year in Cusco is a must.
Around New Year, you will see The color yellow everywhere. It derivatives from gold this for Peruvians means wealth, prosperity, abundance. This color it’s been alive in the culture for several generations, even since the time of the Incas. In Cusco and in most parts of Peru, people spread yellow mixture all over the corners of the houses, and many others spread flower petals all over their house and on the front door. It is a tradition ingrained on New Year’s Eve. Also, you cannot miss the bouquets of yellow flowers, ornaments with ears of barley and wheat adorned with bills of dollars, soles and euros. Good omens such as elephants, colored candles, incense with palo santo, and small clay pots or pockets full of grains of corn, wheat, cinnamon, cloves, lentils, quinoa among others.
Reservations
If you plan to travel to Cusco around Christmas and the New Year, remember that this is a busy time of year and tickets, especially for Machu Picchu sell out quickly. This time of year, many travel to Peru to enjoy the Christmas festivities and hotels are full. Making your reservations in advance is the key to a great holiday in Cusco.
There is a large party scene in the city of Cusco, so if you happen to be in Cusco on New Years Eve you are guaranteed to find a party or two to attend. Contact SAM Travel Peru for all your Cusco holiday tours and hotels.
