Corpus Christy in Cusco
Cusco is a city full of traditional and religious festivities. One of these is Corpus Christi, which takes place in June and has its origin in the merge of Inca and Catholic traditions.
After two long years of virtual living, Corpus Christi 2022 will be celebrated in the city and the people of Cusco will be there, paying their respects to their own saints and their beautiful churches, filling the streets with faith and prayers in unique ways that only happen in the Imperial city.
Don’t let anything keep you from living this amazing experience, come to Cusco and be a part of this traditional celebration, share joy and laughter with the local people, and get to know its history and customs.
What is Corpus Christi?
Corpus Christi or Body of Christ, formerly known as Corpus Domini, is a Catholic celebration that was brought into Cusco by Spain during the conquest and it was used in the process of evangelization of the Cusquenian people. The purpose of this religious festivity is to celebrate the Eucharist or communion, a sacrament of the church that for the Catholic faithful means to receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ through the host and wine, blessed and transformed during the mass.
It is presumed that this celebration started in 1208, when Juliana de Cornillon, a woman dedicated to serving God, promoted the establishment of a celebration to pay homage to the body and blood of Christ, following the spirit of the flourishing Eucharistic thinking in Europe during the Middle Ages.
Corpus Christi en Cusco 2022
June is a very special month for the people of Cusco because it’s the anniversary of their amazing city, and this year the joy, the energy and every little thing that makes Cusco so fantastic, is back after two years of pandemia. This June 2022, Cusco pays tribute to its Catholic heritage in one of its most important celebrations, where 15 images of Saints and Virgins are paraded through the streets of the Imperial city.
This celebration comes with a gastronomic festival, which has the famous Chiri Uchu traditional dish as the star of the festival. Chiri Uchu it´s a quechua name for “Cold Chili” and it’s a mix of flavors, such as lake algae locally known as cochayuyo, guinea pig or cuy, chicken, potatoes, a kind of corn pancake called “torrejas”, roasted corn, rocotos (a very strong type of chili), andean cheese, charqui (a salty dry meat similar to jerky), sausages, chorizo, herbs and lots of love.
During this celebration there are also parades, masses and traditional dances that are prepared by more than 200 delegations from all over the territory, which exalt the feelings and pride of the Cusco people identity.
On the principal day of this festivity, a Te-deum mass is celebrated by the Archbishop of the city. Once finished, the procession of the Silver Chariot that holds the golden sun of the Custody, the sacred vessel where the host representing the Body of Christ is placed, begins.
The Carroza or anda, is richly decorated and is so large and heavy that it requires the strength of several men to be transported through the streets. Being chosen to carry the anda is a great honor that is conferred to members of the church, city authorities, members of some distinguished institutions and illustrious people of the town.
The anda was ordered to be built by Bishop Fray Bernardo de Serrada in 1733, using part of a bequest from Dr. Francisco de Goyzueta Maldonado, a church man that was very important in Arequipa, as well as he was in Cusco.
Saints and Virgins
All the churches along the city get ready for this celebration by dressing beautifully their religious statues. Virgins and Saints parade in a ceremony of faith, beauty and profound sentiment to pay their respects to the Body of Christ.
The history says that when Spanish conquerors arrived, the Incas had a tradition where they walked around the Plaza with their sacred mommies and representations of their own gods. This local festivity was prohibited because it was considered as a pagan celebration and it was replaced for Corpus Christi, which was religiously correct for Catholic church and the Spanish crown.
Today there are 15 Saints and Virgins participating of the Corpus Christi:
- San Antonio of the parish of San Cristobal: It is the first one to come out of the Cathedral. It is an image of great beauty that represents a middle-aged man with a thick beard and a silver aureole richly worked. His clothing consists of a habit and a cape both embroidered with gold and silver, and he is the patron saint of bachelors. He is also the patron saint of the pig farmers, which is why there is always a little pig next to him.
- San Jeronimo of the parish of the district of San Jeronimo: The second character to come out of the Cathedral. He was the translator of the bible into the Latin language to an edition called Vulgata.
- San Cristobal of the parish of San Cristobal: He is the third one to come out. The image of San Cristobal is a wood carving of a strong and young man. His costume is also carved in wood, but the people who are faithful to him, put some special clothing on him to increase his status and elegance.
- San Sebastian of the parish of the district of San Sebastian: It is on a beautifully worked wooden platform, which shows all the richness of the South American baroque style full of movement and exuberant details.
- Santa Barbara of the parish of the district of Poroy: Poroy is a district 5 miles from the center of the city. This saint is venerated by the peasants of the area and her platform is very humbled, decorated with potatoes from the crops of the people who are faithful to her. It has a beautiful aureole embossed in metal and stones that garnished it.
- Santa Ana of the parish of Santa Ana: She is the mother of the Virgin Mary and is represented as an older woman carrying the child. Her clothing is very elegant.
- Santiago Apostle of the parish of Santiago: This religious statue was brought from Spain and shows the apostle on a spirited horse, ready to fight.
- San Blas of the parish of San Blas: Is wearing his Bishop clothing and has a frozen gesture as if giving the blessing to his people. He is surrounded by altar boys and is on a carved wooden platform.
- San Pedro of San Pedro´s parish: The church is located in front of the famous San Pedro’s market. This saint was the first pope and custodian of the keys to heaven, and carries with him all the attributes of religious authorities.
- San José of the parish of Belén: He is accompanied by Jesus as a child and they both wear beautiful crowns and silver canes. The child receives presents such as beautiful toys to keep him happy.
- Virgen de la Natividad of the Almudena parish: This image is made of wood and is a replica of the Virgin of Almudena, in Spain. She carries the child in her arms and both wear elegant large golden crowns.
- Virgen de los Remedios of the church of Santa Catalina: It is a beautiful virgin of approximately 1 meter high. The platform is made of silver and her crown is made of gold.
- Virgen Purificada of the parish of San Pedro: Her platform is made of silver, her dress is beautifully adorned with golden embroidery and her golden crown has precious stones on it.
- Virgen de Belén of the parris of Belén: She is the one with the most magnificent, pompous and richest dresses, since she is famous for granting many miracles. Her silver platform is extremely heavy and requires many men to walk it around the streets.
- Virgen de la Inmaculada Concepción also called “La Linda” (the beautiful) of the Cathedral: It is the hostess of the Corpus Christi celebration and is the second most magnificent image of the parade in beauty and wealth.
Every detail matters in this kind of traditional celebration and Cusco is a place where two powerful cultures mixed and merged a long time ago, creating a world full of bright colors, diversity, music, magic, mysticism and all the history we are lucky to know today.
Cusco is waiting for you with open arms and open heart.
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Travel with us, visit Cusco today and be a part of the amazing celebrations of Corpus Christi and Inti Raymi festivities, we know for sure it will be unforgettable.
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