Andean Christmas
Pan-Peruvian - December 24 & 25

The rural context of the arrival of the infant Christ allowed early Peruvians to identify immediately with the festivity highlighted by artisan creativity. The Andean Christmas began taking on characteristics of its own by adding elements from each region. These elements are put together in Nativity scenes in churches and homes: 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.

Santuranticuy Fair
Cusco - December 24

The origin of this fair date back to the Vice-regency, and today has become one of the largest arts and crafts fairs in Peru. In the main square of Cusco, artisans lay out blankets on the sidewalks, as is the custom in traditional Andean fairs. Images carvers and artisans sell a wide variety of figurines to liven up Christmas and fit out the Nativity scenes that are set up in homes and parish churches. The fair also sells a variety of ceramic objects brought from Pucara and Quinua. Here one can also find all sorts of arts and crafts, such as wooden carvings, pottery and the boxed scenes called retablos.