Finishing a Roof

By Arnold Fernandez Coraza (translated by David Knowlton)

The city of Cuzco keeps growing and, as a result, its hillsides are filling up with houses. When a house is built, our customs and traditions require the family members and friends of the owners get together to help the workmen perform the roofing. They do this as a kind of ayni, mutual assistance. When they put the last touches on the roof they prepare special dishes and drinks to celebrate the roofing, or techado as we call it. Read the rest of this entry

Watch Out. I’ve Got Foam.

By Brayan Coraza Morveli (translated by David Knowlton)

Carnival is a celebration in which every Cuzqueño and every visitor to the city can have fun dancing, singing, playing, and looking at the allegories put up for Carnival.

The most spectacular attractions of the celebration take place where yunzas, trees have been set up filled with gifts tied to their branches.  You can watch people dance around the tree striking at it with an axe.  If you pay attention to the pacing of the blows you can join others in running to grab a gift, or maybe just a cold.  Read the rest of this entry

The Mask of a Compadre in San Pedro Market

By Hebert Edgardo Huamani Jara (translated by David Knowlton)

Cuzco celebrates today. Parties will last until late, perhaps dawn, just like every other year on this day, In all the markets, neighborhoods, and streets of our city, bright colors will appear as people make large figurines and celebrate their compadres.
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Majeño

By David Knowlton

Dance is an important part of traditional Cuzco life. Whether in the cities with their folk festivals and their feasts celebrating a patron saint or in rural communities from high Espinar Province to the lowland La Convencion, dance plays an important role. As part of dance, participants generally wear costumes which often include masks. Read the rest of this entry

Roasted Lamb

By David Knowlton

An important garden restaurant opened this year in Cuzco amidst all the road work on Tullumayo Street. Reminiscent of the traditional quintas where families would go to spend an afternoon while feasting, it claims to be a picantería, a traditional Cuzco Restaurant serving chicha and authentic local food in a rustic ambiance, though not that of the garden. Called La Cusqueñita, the restaurant represents and displays Cuzco’s culture, in dance, style, and food, for the people of Cuzco and visitors to consume. Read the rest of this entry

Traditional Costume for Dance

By Brayan Coraza Morveli (translated by David Knowlton)

Andean men wear a distinctive traditional garb. Little worn during the day outside of festivals and rural, a knitted or crocheted, colorful cap with ear flaps, their head gear remains important. Called “chullo” in Spanish, “ch’ullu” in Quechua and “lluch’u” in Aymara, it is traditionally woven from the wool of alpacas and other camelids, although today it is often made from synthetic fibers because of their durability and bright colors. Read the rest of this entry

Greeting the Judges

Cuzco continues to celebrate with a contest where its various institutions compete to best show off Cusco’s rich culture through its traditional dances. Today, the multi-day show begins with small children from the city`s kindergartens. They dance around the PLaza de Armas in a salute to their city by performing its typical dances. Read the rest of this entry

Cross and Candles Waiting to Be Used

By Walter Coraza Morveli (translated by David Knowlton)

Cuzco’s month of Celebration, June, is filled with events. Last night, Cuzco’s  Plaza de Armas embraced a staged performance of one of Cuzco’s emblematic feasts, in all its complexity, the Cruz Velakuy--the Feast of the Cross. Normally held on the night of May 2nd, the Feast was staged for the people and Cuzco and foreigners as Cuzco celebrates itself and its way of life. Read the rest of this entry

Dancing in Cuzco

By Walter Coraza Morveli and Brayan Coraza Morveli (translated by David Knowlton)

Through movements, coordination, and choreographed sequences of bodies dance communicates the dancers feelings as well as a lot of information. The different communities of Cuzco express their identity and culture through their dance, and this has a very long history here, from well before the Spanish came. On seeing a dance you can recognize through the movements and the costumes where the dance is from and what the regions tradition and customs are like. Read the rest of this entry

Singing for the Dead

By Walter Coraza Morveli (translated by David Knowlton)

Once November first has passed, and people have enjoyed their lechón, on the next day– November 2– the celebrate the Day of the Dead which is also an old tradition in Cuzco.   People get up early this day to visit the cemeteries, especially the tombs of any loved one who has passed to the other life.   They begin by taking them flowers in  a variety of  colors along with multicolored wreaths, often made of plastic to last.  On this day one should not eat anything of meat out of respect for the dead.  Nevertheless, vendors are at the cemeteries’ gates offering typical dishes. Read the rest of this entry