Paradise Praises

Inspiring you to Exceptional Living & Intentional Praise

  • NEW BOOK!
  • ABOUT
  • SPEAKING
  • WORK WITH ME
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • HOLIDAYS
  • HOMESCHOOL
    • Homeschool Spanish + Videos
    • Homeschool Curriculum in Spanish
    • Book List by Topic
    • What to Read Series & Link Up
    • Reviews
    • Field Trips
    • Summer Learning Series
    • Free Printables
    • Videos
    • Math
    • Science
    • History
    • Geography
    • Music
  • PARENTING
    • Grandparenting
    • Free Family Resources
    • Family Traditions
    • Family Travel
    • Expat Life
      • Third Culture Kids
      • Travel
      • Mexico
    • Marriage
  • CHOOSING PRAISE
    • Putting On The Spirit
    • In Spite of Myself (Video Class)
    • The Omni-God Bible Study
    • The Names of God
    • Kids Ministry
  • WORDLESS BOOK
  • BLOG
  • SHOP
    • Affiliates
    • Community Store

Christmas in Peru

By Katie Hornor

This is day 2 in our Christmas Around the World series. See the others Here.

Christmas in Cusco, Peru

I have been told that the celebration of Christmas in Cusco, Peru, begins with dressing-up the city in colored lights and garlands. These can be seen everywhere, from the balconies of the houses on Monumental mountain to the streets around the main square. The decorations envelope the city in a warm festive ambiance.

Christmas in Peru www.ParadisePraises.com

On December 24th, hundreds of artisans from Cusco and the surrounding towns gather in Cusco’s main square to lay their blankets on the sidewalks and sell carved Nativity hanicrafts. This temporary market traditionally dates back to the days of the Spanish Vice-royalty. It is called Santuranticuy, meaning “saints for sale”, and it is one of the largest arts and crafts fairs in Peru.

The central figure of this Christmas fair is the Niño Manuelito, the Andean version of the newborn Jesus. Besides the baby Manuelito, you’ll find the other Nativity figures, all with an Andean touch, as well as images of the Catholic saints. Many artisans are selling little boxed scenes, known as retablos, whose small figurines can represent almost every aspect of life, secular or sacred, though the most popular at this time of year are the Nativity scenes. See some retablos here.

Peruvian retablo

Through the years, this special Christmas fair has expanded beyond Christmas figurines to include other goods such as antiques, silverware, decorative ceramic objects, wood and bark crafts, miniatures and filigrees, silverware, stone crafts, stone sculptures, paintings, and Niños Manuelitos.

If you’re visiting at night, you’ll want to try some ponche, the warm, sweet traditional rum drink that the street vendors sell to warm up on chilly Peruvian nights.

Have you ever been to Cusco? Please tell us more about it in the comments!

Related links:

  • The recipe for ponche and other Peruvian foods
  • A Peruvian girl coloring page
  • A Peruvian boy coloring page
  • Discover Cusco – more information
  • Printable map of Peru and South America

Join our mailing list to get a new post about Christmas Around the World each day in October! Or click the link below to see the other posts in the series.



31 Days of Christmas Around the World www.ParadisePraises.com

Filed Under: Holidays Tagged With: Christmas, geography

About Katie Hornor

Katie Hornor is a busy wife and homeschool mommy of five. Just like you, she faces the everyday challenge of setting the tone for praise in her home. Katie knows that life can by messy, but she also knows we have a choice. At ParadisePraises.com she inspires other women to be the exception and live a life of intentional praise.

sidebarDD-2 hymn study pack

Comments Policy | Terms | Disclosures | Cookies | Photo Cred | Affiliates | Partner | Contact | Privacy | Copyright © 2022 FelizPreneur LLC