| |
Location:
Lima, Ancash, Apurímac, Arequipa and Cusco
Date: October 4
The
Virgen del Rosario is the patron saint of the Dominican
Order, who were in charge of the slave brotherhoods in colonial
times. This is why the image of the saint is often accompanied
by an icon featuring the letter "S" pinned on
by a nail, symbolizing the black slaves. Worship of the
saint dates back to 1 536, and the festival is celebrated
all over Peru. On the first Sunday of October, in Cajatambo,
in the highlands of the department of Lima, the locals hold
an agricultural fair, bullfights, marinera competitions
and a procession featuring Los Diablos (demons) as the main
dance act.
In
the district of Urcos, in the province of Quispicanchis,
as well as in Combate and Checaupe, in the province of Canchis,
department of Cusco, locals celebrate the date with processions,
bullfights and pachamancas, a dish prepared in underground
pits and cooked over hot stones.
The
center of all Virgen del Rosario celebrations however is
the northern Andean department of Ancash. The celebrations
are highlighted by the presence of pallas, ladies dressed
in costumes with wide sleeves and tall crowns of flowers,
and the famous negritos, dancers dressed in black wool masks
who liven up the celebration.
This
festival features a symbolic confrontation between the Moors,
locals dressed in Andean costume, and the Christians, who
are dressed in Spanish outfits harking back to colonial
times. The battle ends when the Moorish kings, having been
vanquished and taken prisoner, repent and beg to be converted
to Christianity. As dusk falls, the virgin's procession
sets off back to church, accompanied by bands of musicians.
| |
