Christmas

Early Peruvians immediately identified with the festival of Christmas due to the
rural nature of the nativity story, where the baby Jesus was born in a barn.
Andean Christmases began taking on characteristics of their own, and it is
probably the most important celebration of the year.
Cusco's Plaza de Armas is decorated with nativity animals in lights from about the
10th of December and the whole city takes on a festive air.
The Andean people put together Nativity scenes in churches and homes, perform
dances and plays, and cook typical dishes. Most families buy the pieces for their
nativity scenes at the fascinating market of Santurantikuy, (the buying of the
saints), held in the Plaza de Armas on the 24th December.
Campesinos (farm people) also sell plants and mosses, used in the traditional
nacimientos (see picture right) Families will keep their nativity scenes until the until
la Bajada de los Reyes (the arrival of the three wise men) on January 6.
You can go from church to church in the week preceding Christmas to see the
different nacimientos and also hear church choirs.
In Cusco, Christmas Eve (known as Noche Buena) is when families get together
and celebrate and exchange gifts. Well off families, eat turkey, while for many
others chicken suffices. Paneton (a cake/bread filled with fruits) is very popular as
are hot drinks of chocolate. In the week preceding Christmas, it is also popular for
communities, churches or organisations to organise "chocolatadas" where people
who are better off make a Christmas gesture to poor children by offering them a
cup of hot chocolate and perhaps a small gift. The lines for chocolatadas are a
distinct feature of Christmas in Cusco.
Many poor families come to Cusco and sleep on the streets for several days, in
order to be able to attend Chocolatadas.
Christmas in Cusco has also many features common to those from the west:
Christmas trees and the face of Santa Claus or Father Christmas.
See Go South America Christmas in Cuzco
Chocolatadas
A distinct aspect of Christmas in Peru is the "chocolatada" where better off people
or organisations offer a bit of Christmas cheer to poor children or pensioners. A
chocolatada is often organised by churches, businesses or shops and are
characterised by giving a cup of hot chocolate, some bread or biscocho (a sweet
bread with dried fruits inside), some sweets or maybe a toy.
This is a ceremony in the Andean villages dating back to the pre-Hispanic era to
commemorate the assumption of power by the highest authority, or Varayoc, who

receives a scepter from his predecessor symbolizing power. The scepters, made of
native wood species such as tucuma, black hualtaco (tagetes minuta), huallacn or
quince, measure approximately one meter in length and have silver and gold
inlays.
Epiphany, (or the Visit of the Wise Men) coincides with the taking of power of the
Varayoc whose authority is given to his successor with a silver-tipped staff as a
symbol. There is a procession in which two images, The Christ Child and San
Isidro the farmer are walked around the city. A bullfight takes place in the
afternoon.
In the Cusco region, the Visit of the Wise Men is particularly interesting in
Ollantaytambo.