Fiesta del Inti Raymi
( Festival of the Sun)
Why?
- Celebrates the Winter solstice: shortest day of the year
- Honors the Inca's sun God
- Incas feared they would not have enough sun for their crops, so they sacrificed animals hoping the sun came back.
Where?
- Held in Cusco, Peru
- The ceremony is divided into 3 parts (Koricancha, Plaza de Armes, Sacsayhuaman.)
- people celebrate in the streets
When?
- Starts 9 days before actual ceremony
- FIesta del Inti Raymi is held on June 24th of every year
- begins at 10:00 a.m. and ends at 4:00 p.m.
Who?
- attracts over 150,000 people
- includes travelers from all over the world, locals, and hundreds of actors for the reenactments (lasts 5-6 hours)
Traditions
- people wear colorful costumes
- hold lavish banquets throughout the week
- dance to festive music in the streets
- fire celebrations
- set up and perform historical reenactments
- street/square activities (concerts, ceremonies)
- hold celebration throughout the previous week
- parades
Music
- listen and dance
- Folk
- Andean
Food
- main dish served all week is Chiriuchu (eat with hands)
- main drink is compuesto
Inti Raymi Festival or Festival of the Sun in Cusco