One of the most prominent festivities in the city of Cusco is the Corpus Christi. This event is a fusion of the millenary traditions and religious culture that the people of Cusco possess.
To this day, this tradition remains active due to the mix of religious and historical elements, and year after year it impresses many national and foreign visitors. Join us to learn more about this grand festivity.
The origins of this grand festival date back to the Inca era when the mallquis (mummified bodies of the Incas) were honored. Annually, the people conducted processions through the city that were part of a cult to honor the deceased. These processions ended in massive gatherings where ceremonial feasts were served, with abundant food and traditional aqha or now known as white chicha, as an act of reverence to their deities.
It was not until the arrival of the Spanish invaders that this tradition underwent a significant change due to the introduction of Catholicism and their religion, as they considered these acts to degrade their culture and religion.
The religious authorities at the time decided to end this "pagan" tradition, forcing the replacement of the revered remains with images of the Virgin and some Catholic saints. Thus, in Cusco, began the tradition that persists to this day and is now part of the Andean culture.
Some events have impacted the celebration, such as the earthquake in the 1950s in the city of Cusco. At that time, it was difficult to carry out the procession of the saints because families affected by the earthquake were sheltering in the square. Despite the situation, the route was adjusted to carry out the procession normally.
Another significant event was the death of Archbishop Luis Vallejos in 1982. The ecclesiastical hierarchy ordered the suspension of the procession that year, however, the stewards rejected the proposal. The procession went ahead as usual, but with some changes reflecting the mourning situation at the time.
In the city of Cusco, some activities are regulated by the lunar calendar, including Holy Week, the Lord of Qoyllurit'i festival, and the Corpus Christi procession.
For Corpus Christi, it occurs 9 weeks after Holy Thursday (Holy Week), typically between May and June. However, the date always falls on a Thursday; thus, on May 30, 2024, this festivity will take place. Many locals and visitors eagerly await this time to witness the procession, as it is undoubtedly a unique experience.
The festivities begin on a Wednesday (the day before the main procession) with each saint leaving their home temple. Each one has a procession where the stewards or "carguyoq", in some cases the district mayor, a band of musicians or "q'aperos", and especially the faithful who voluntarily choose to accompany their saint.
All the images participating in this grand procession gather in front of the Santa Clara temple, then make their way to the cathedral at the Plaza Mayor of Cusco; it is said that the images must arrive at a specific time and respect the traditional order.
The statues of the saints are taken to the cathedral and remain inside until the next day, which is the central day of the procession. According to popular belief, meetings take place between all the parish images on the nights they stay in the cathedral.
On the central day of the festivity, there is significant activity for the stewards, as they are responsible for ensuring that the feast unfolds according to tradition and the expectations of the faithful of each religious image. A clear example is the attire of each image, because each year it must be adorned with its most luxurious garments and most prominent jewels for this festivity that involves thousands of people from different parts of the city of Cusco.
The responsible persons take their saint or virgin from the Basilica Cathedral, and the procession begins. The Plaza Mayor fills with people, and the excitement of witnessing this event is palpable. The order in which the saints come out is as follows:
Without distinction, the stewards give gifts to attendees during the procession, distributing items such as postcards, souvenirs, etc. The procession ends around five in the afternoon, after all the saints return to the Cathedral, where they will remain until the following Thursday, when the faithful, stewards, mayor, and others return their saints to the temple from which they came.
The traditional dish of this festivity is Chiriuchu, a cold and spicy dish exquisite for demanding palates. It is a mix of 10 ingredients such as: baked guinea pig, cau cau (fish roe), boiled chicken, smoked meat, qochayuyo (seaweed), sausage, white corn cancha, cheese, sliced rocoto, and the typical omelet. This omelet, with a spongy consistency, is a combination of ingredients like corn, squash, and a bit of chicken broth during preparation to give it a distinctive flavor when served.
According to some accounts, its creation dates back to the Inca era, specifically to the Aynis, a system of family reciprocity, as at the end of the daily workday, the best from each household was shared, forming a mix of foods from different areas, thus creating a delicious banquet.
An interesting fact is that this dish represents the duality of the Inca world because it was presented as an offering to the Sun god, a warm being, it had to be consumed cold, and coincidentally from there comes its Quechua name, chiri = cold, and uchu = food, translating to "cold food."
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