As one might expect in a country so rich in history and culture, Peru has thousands of yearly celebrations, many of them replete with dance, music and costumery. Many of these Peruvian festivals honor a patron saint, a representation of the Virgin Mary, or a figure of the Christ. Worship of the Virgin Mary closely mirrors that of the Pachamama; and worship of Christ similarly reflects worship of the Apus, or mountain spirits. This synthesis of Catholicism and the pre-Hispanic religions of the Andes and the Amazon combine to create colorful festivals with icons and symbolism from both religions.
There are many examples of this syncretism; one is found at the Virgin of the Candelaria festival in Puno every February. The statue of the Virgin is carried through the streets of Puno on February 2nd every year. Some of the accompanying dances venerate Jacancho, the god of minerals, and other gods from the Andean religions. For the participants there is no contradiction in this combination of elements from diverse religious traditions to create something new and uniquely Peruvian. Below are links to descriptions of some of the most significant and colorful religious festivals in Peru.
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