The VI National Marinera Contest

There is no time when Peru's love for its official coastal dance is more spiritedly manifested than during The National Marinera Contest in Trujillo. For two weeks Local parades liven up the streets and several Marinera competitions are held in local stadiums and collseums in Trujillo.  This is the first year the contest will be considered a worldwide event after more than 100 contestants from different nationalities, from amateurs to national champions, signed up to compete.

When: Saturday, Jan. 15 through Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011

Where: Plaza de toros de Trujillo

El Niño Perdido Festival in Huancavelica

Huancavelica's El Niño Perdido (Lost Child) Festival is a four day celebration based on the story that one day Jesus got lost and a search party composed by a group of slaves from Chincha and their master looked for him until they found him in Huancavelica's  church of Santo Domingo and then they danced to celebrate finding him. This festival is most famous for the Danza de los negritos (dance by the black people) competition where locals dressed in bright costumes and black masks dance in the streets after a man dressed in a white mask cracks his whip to begin the festivity. There are also other dance shows, food fairs,

and rituals.

When: Saturday, Jan. 14 through Tuesday Jan 18, 2011

Where: Huancavelica

Free Admission

Christmas Delights All Over Peru on December 24-25

The birth of the infant Christ allowed early Peruvians to identify immediately with the festivity, which gave rise to artisan creativity, a sense of aesthetics and the religious devotion of Andean peoples. Andean Christmas began taking on characteristics of its own by adding elements from each region. The highlanders put together Nativity scenes in churches and homes, perform dances and plays, cook typical dishes and produce a wide range of handicrafts such as Nativity scenes in Huamanga stone, retablos featuring images related to Christmas and pottery or carved gourds called mates burilados decorated with Yuletide scenes. In most Andean communities, the festival continues until la Bajada de los Reyes (the arrival of the three wise men), January 6, when traditionally people exchange gifts.

The market of Santuranticuy in Cusco is a wonderful crafts market on the main Square of Cuzco. The Plaza comes alive on the morning of Christmas eve with crafts people selling their crafts. Artisans sell a large variety of sacred representations, woodcarvings, pottery and nativity scenes.

Galas, Laicas o Tusuq – December 24th – 28th

Province of Huancavelica

An ancient dance is still performed today which is a classical dance with a magical/religious ritual and represents characters such as the Pachamama (Earth Mother), Hananpacha (realm of the gods), and Ucupacha (underworld) as well as aspects of Andean popular life. The presentation takes place at the Church of San Francisco.