Feast of the Virgen del Carmen

Festivals in honor of the Virgen del Carmen are celebrated in various regions in Peru on or around July 16. The festivities include processions, street parades with traditional and indigenous dances, music, colorful costumes and lots of Peruvian food and drinks. Some festivals feature reenactments of events in Peruvian history.

As so often in Peru indigenous beliefs, traditions and customs merged with partly forced Christian faith and veneration of saints resulting in spectacular and colorful celebrations. So, the Feast of the Virgen del Carmen in Peru isn't just a religious celebration, it's an expression of Peruvian identity combing faith, history, customs, music, costumes and dances of the indigenous people and Spanish conquerors.

In general, on the principal day of the celebrations, usually July 16, after a mass the Virgin del Carmen is carried through towns in colorful processions accompanied by thousands of worshippers.

Celebrations are extremely enthusiastic in Paucartambo 3 hours from Cusco (a 3-day long feast is celebrated, known as the Mamacha Carmen Festival), in Ayacucho, in Celendin 4 hours from Cajamarca and in Callao (Virgen del Carmen de la Legua Festival).