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Culture, Arts & Traditions in Peru
Peruvian Festivals & Rituals |
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Cruces
de Porcon Cajamarca
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Location:
Porcón (Cajamarca)
Date: 2nd half of March-1st week of April
Weaving through the early mists that
still shroud the highlands just before dawn, an impressive
procession of huge, colorful wooden crosses progresses down
the valley of Porcón to celebrate the triumphal entry
of Christ into Jerusalem.
Unlike other Easter Week celebrations, the one in this fun-loving
village located half an hour by road from the city of Cajamarca
does not dwell on the death of Christ. On the main day of
the festival, Palm Sunday, four different ceremonies are held:
the crowning of the crosses, the greeting of the Lord at the
home of the mayordomo (the person in charge of organizing
the festivities), the various responses sung in Quechua and
Latin, and finally the procession to the plantation chapel.
The crosses are decorated with round and oval-shaped mirrors
symbolizing the souls of the dead, as well as figures representing
the Virgin Mary, the Heart of Jesus and a wealth of symmetrically
placed patron saints forming a huge rhomboid. The locals hang
metal bells from the corners to announce the arrival of the
crosses to the community. During the imposing procession of
the crosses, angels dressed out in turquoise, yellow and pink,
stride ahead, hanging onto the señorca, the donkey
carrying the Lord of the Palms.
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