Independence Day customs in Chiclayo

Tom Filipowicz in Chiclayo explains what happens in the run up the Peru’s independence day celebrations on the 28th of July.

August 2, 2010 | Lambayeque & Chiclayo Guide, Traditions

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Inti Raymi: Cultural Preservation or Capitalistic Exploitation? [Featured]

With tickets sold to tourists priced at $80 each, indigenous Cusqueños are effectively barred from the modern-day recreations of their ancestors’ most important religious event, Inti Raymi. Is there anything left in this “ritual” that reflects the Inca empire’s glorious past, or is it all a show put on to make money from tourists? Camden Luxford explains.

July 31, 2010 | Commentary/Opinion, Traditions

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Chinchero: Land of Great Weavers

Chinchero produces extraordinary textiles, woven with ancestral tools with Incan designs and natural colors.

May 11, 2010 | Art, Cusco Guide, Traditions

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New Year Traditions: Die!…Muñeco…Die!

Tom Filipowicz in Chiclayo recounts the tradition of burning mannequins as part of New Year celebrations in Peru, as well as other customs.

January 31, 2010 | Modern Peru, Traditions

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800 year old tomb of shaman discovered

Curandero – witch-doctor or medicine-man in English, but the most direct translation is healer. The tradition of the curanderos still runs strong in the Muchik northern coast of La Libertad and Lambayeque, particularly around Chiclayo. The traditions and techniques of theses healers date back to pre-Colombian times and the the civilisations of the Chimú, Sicán and the Moche before them. Archaeologists have recently been given a glimpse into this period of time with the discovery of the 800 year old tomb of a Sicán curandero.

January 23, 2010 | Archaeology, News, Traditions

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Chiclayo: The Preservation of Tradition

In November, Tom Filipowicz visited the event held for the Mochica Identity Week and discusses what he feels is a strong local connection and respect for traditions and customs. Participating were school groups, each choosing and important local custom to present to visitors.

January 13, 2010 | Lambayeque & Chiclayo Guide, Modern Peru, Traditions

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Andean women’s football championships [Featured]

More than 70 Andean women from six Peruvian cities took part in the final stage of the second annual Mamacha national championships.

December 14, 2009 | Traditions

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Recreation in Ayacucho – The battle that liberated a continent

On the 10th of December of this year, 185 years passed since Peru won a battle that decisively ended any hope for a Spanish presence in South America. At 3,500 above sea level, on the field of battle of the Pampa de Quinua, thousands gathered to take part in a huge recreation in honour of this occasion.

December 13, 2009 | Ayacucho Guide, Modern Peru, Traditions

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Barin Bababo: Shipibo Konibo: Cosmovision of an Amazonian People [Featured]

I wrote a short time ago about the Shipibo people, an indigenous Amazonian tribe, some of whom now live on the polluted river Rímac in Lima’s desert. (Alejandro also introduced us to the River Rimac Project)

Here, Alejandro tells us more about the Shipibo people living in Rimac, and their fascinating artwork.

May 3, 2009 | Art, Commentary/Opinion, Modern Peru, Traditions

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Ruins of Pachacamac

The history of pre-Hispanic Lima is deeply entwined with Pachacamac. Worshipped across the central Andes since before the Inca conquest, the powerful creator god Pacha Kamaq is even revered today, almost 500 years after the Spanish conquest by Catholics in Lima. Today this powerful being has taken shape as the Cristo Morado and has been absorbed into Catholicism, and just as he is today, this ancient figure was also known as the Lord of the Earthquakes.

October 29, 2008 | Archaeology, Lima City Guide, Modern Peru, Traditions

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Carnival in Cajamarca

It’s carnival time in Cajamarca!!

…a period of song, dance and water fights. This carnival is known to be the most wild in the country and perhaps the second most famous on the continent after the one that takes place in Brazil. Whether a sunny day or not, dressing for rain would be a very good idea – expect to br drenched in buckets of water.

February 2, 2008 | Cajamarca Guide, Modern Peru, Traditions

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The Tumi

The Tumi is a ceremonial knife used by ancient Peruvian cultures as a means to perform sacrifices. It consists of two parts, a semi-circular blade and a handle often representing the northern Peruvian God Naymlap. The ceremonial knife is usually made from solid gold, though sometimes bronze or copper, these metals representing the sun, from which Andean cultures believed all human life descended.

December 26, 2007 | Archaeology, Traditions

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