One of the most notable festivities in the city of Cusco is Corpus Christi. This celebration is a fusion of ancient traditions and the religious culture of the people of Cusco. This tradition remains alive today due to its blend of religion and history, and year after year it impresses many national and international visitors. Learn more about this tradition.
In Cusco, Corpus Christi 2025 is celebrated on Thursday, May 30th. This religious festival marks the beginning of the Cusco festivities and attracts numerous tourists who come to enjoy the local traditions and culture. The celebration includes a procession of saints to the Cathedral, as well as dance and music in the Plaza de Armas.
Corpus Christi Cusco is a religious festival with a long tradition in the imperial city, as it brings together the customs of the indigenous peoples in one place and is such a beautiful spectacle that it amazes both locals and visitors.
During the time of the Incas, there were many festivals dedicated to ancestors and gods. Among them are Taita Inti, the goddess Killa, Kuychi, etc., all of whom meant a lot to the Incas. Of course, the most important of these festivals is the festival in honor of Inti (the sun), and in ancient times, the mummies of their high sovereigns were often taken out in procession as a prelude to the festivities.
However, the Spanish were amazed by what they saw and took advantage of the festival in their "evangelization" procession. Therefore, in 1572, it was decided to replace the procession of mummies with a procession of the 15 saints and virgins, in what is still known today as Corpus Christi in Cusco.
Corpus Christi follows the church calendar, which tells us that its celebration takes place nine weeks after Holy Thursday (Holy Week). Therefore, the festival will be held on June 16 of this year (2022).
In the city of Cusco, there are some activities regulated by the lunar calendar, including Holy Week, the feast of the Lord of Qoyllurit'i, and the Corpus Christi procession.
In the case of Corpus Christi, it is counted nine weeks after Holy Thursday (Holy Week), generally between the months of May and June. However, the date always falls on a Thursday, so this festival will take place on Thursday, May 30, 2024. Many Cusco residents and visitors eagerly await this time to witness the procession, as it is undoubtedly a unique experience.
The festival begins on a Wednesday, the day before the main procession, with the departure of each saint from their temple. Each saint is accompanied by a procession that includes 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 Temple of Santa Clara, then head to the cathedral in Cusco's Plaza Mayor. 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 there until the following day, which is the main day of the procession. According to popular belief, meetings are held among all the parish images during the nights they remain in the cathedral.
The main day of this festivity is a day of great activity for the mayordomos (stewards), as they are responsible for ensuring that this celebration unfolds according to the traditions and expectations of the faithful of each religious image. A clear example is the attire of each image, because each year they must be dressed in their most luxurious garments and most striking jewelry for this celebration, which attracts thousands of people from different parts of Cusco.
The people in charge carry their saint or virgin out of the Cathedral Basilica, and the procession begins. The Main Square fills with people, and the excitement of seeing this procession is palpable. The order in which the saints appear is as follows:
Saint Anthony from the parish of San Cristóbal.
Saint Jerome from the parish of the district of San Jerónimo.
Saint Christopher from the parish of San Cristóbal.
Saint Sebastian from the parish of the district of San Sebastian
Saint Barbara from the parish of the district of Poroy
Saint Anne from the parish of Santa Ana
Saint James the Apostle from the parish of Santiago
Saint Blaise from the parish of San Blas
Saint Peter from the parish of San Pedro
Saint Joseph from the parish of Bethlehem
Our Lady of the Nativity from the parish of Almudena
Our Lady of the Remedies from the church of Santa Catalina
Our Lady of the Purification from the parish of San Pedro
Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, also called "La Linda" from the Basilica of the Cathedral
The stewards, without distinction, distribute gifts to those attending during the procession, handing out items such as postcards, souvenirs, etc. The procession ends at approximately 5:00 p.m., after all the saints return to the Cathedral, where they will remain until the following Thursday, when the faithful, the stewards, the mayor, and others return their saints to the temple from which they came.
The traditional dish for this festival is Chiriuchu, a cold and spicy dish exquisite for discerning palates. It is a mixture of 10 ingredients such as: baked guinea pig, cau cau (fish roe), boiled chicken, cured meat, qochayuyo (seaweed), chorizo, white corn, cheese, sliced rocoto (roasted corn), and the typical French toast. This fluffy toast is a combination of ingredients such as corn, squash, and a little chicken broth during preparation to give it a distinctive flavor when served.
According to some accounts, its creation dates back to the time of the Incas, specifically the Aynis, a system of family reciprocity. At the end of the workday, the best of each house was shared, creating a mixture of foods from different sectors, 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 was meant to be eaten cold, and coincidentally, this is where its Quechua name comes from: chiri = cold, and uchu = food, translating it as "cold food."
