Festival of the Crosses

The Festival of the Crosses, also known as Cruces de Mayo (May Crosses Festival), was introduced to Peru by the Spanish conquerors and is celebrated in Peru mostly in towns in the Andean highlands on May 3.

Today the Festival of the Crosses is a good example of how Christian beliefs brought to the country by the Spaniards and ancient local customs, traditions and feasts merged to one celebration.

Members of mostly rural communities prepare large wooden crosses and decorate them lavishly with flowers and traditional fabrics. In huge processions the worshippers then carry the crosses to neighboring churches. The festivities are often accompanied by folk music and traditional dances including the famous danzantes de tijeras (scissors dancers).

Find more information in our article "Festival of the Crosses"

Festival of the Crosses - Fiesta de las Cruces in Peru

Peruvian Public Holidays & Festivities

The Festival of the Crosses, also known as Cruces de Mayo (May Crosses Festival), was introduced to Peru by the Spaniards and is celebrated in Peru...

And for more information about the celebrations in Puno, read our article "Alasitas Fair in Puno"

Alasitas Fair - Festival of the Crosses in Puno

Peruvian Public Holidays & Festivities

In Puno, the Festival of the Crosses and the Alasitas Fair are inseparably linked. While the principal day is May 3 for both events, the fair, whic...