Cuzco - Corpus Christi Festivities
How lucky could we possibly have been to witness this gigantic celebration! Corpus Christi, in Cuzco, is an annual Catholic celebration mixed with Inca cultural lore. One of those moments that would have been impossible to plan for.
The main day of the celebration is always on Thursday, but the approximately 15 Virgins and Saints of the parishes near Cuzco leave the day before, heading toward the Cathedral on La Plaza de Armas The Saints and Virgins have to be dressed, cleaned and bejeweled, each parish vying for the "most attractive" and "elegant" fashionista effigy.
On Thursday (Corpus Christi Day), the statues leave in procession around the entire square carried on litters by very strong men so the Bishop can bless the people of Cuzco. Each litter was carried once around the square, and then entered back into the Cathedral.
heavy work
The city was packed with pilgrims, markets, food sellers, Indians who had travelled from near and far to sell their home-made wares. Roasted Guinea Pigs ("chiri uchu"), corn, pigs, barbeques of items which, who knew what they were, and we had no intention of trying! Debra ("kid" from our group) did...and spent the entire next day en route to Lima....deathly sick.
"Chicha de jora" was being drunk like water. Chicha is a fermented beverage similar to beer, brewed from yellow maize (dating back to the Inca Empire) with a sour aftertaste. You can drink it either young and sweet or mature and strong, and from the looks of the people, their preference was mature and strong! Something else we didn't try.
Everything was taking place around the Cathedral square which was considered the dead center of the Inca Empire. Chris suggested we watch from a restaurant on the Plaza with a second floor balcony. View image Our group sat there all day - photographing, drinking ordinary beer (not Chicha), and watching all the pagentry.
carrying the Saints
The celebrating went on until the early hours of the morning so we made one more "power-shopping" excursion under the arcades of the square. Ended up buying crocheted hats...which we certainly didn't need...but the men had blankets spread out with hats and things that their wives had hand-made. Everything was so inexpensive for us, and meant so much to them (we're talking perhaps a dollar)...that we bought...and bought...and bought.
Cuzco turned out to be a highlight of any trip we've ever taken. Partly because of Corpus Christi but primarily because it is just a very charming city!
After that, it was back to Lima and our group scattered off to all parts. There has been a lot of growth in Inca Trek "traffic", and Peru has become even more popular as a destination, but don't put it off - GO! We absolutely LOVED PERU and think you will too!
