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- Peru Guide
- Peruvian Public Holidays & Festivities
Peruvian Public Holidays & Festivities (2021, 2022 & 2023)
Peru’s official non-working public holidays include internationally celebrated days such as New Year, Easter and Christmas, church festivals in honor of Christian saints such as All Saints Day or Saint Rose Day, a day honoring the brave men of Peru’s military that fought in the Battle of Angamos (War of the Pacific in 1879) and of course Peru’s "Fiestas Patrias", a two-day celebration for the country’s independence from Spain.
Peruvian public holidays
Holiday - English Festivo - Spanish Date/Dates New Year’s Day Año Nuevo 01 January Holy Thursday Jueves Santo 01 April 2021
14 April 2022
06 April 2023Good Friday Viernes Santo 02 April 2021
15 April 2022
07 April 2023Easter Sunday Pascua 04 April 2021
17 April 2022
09 April 2023Labor Day Dia del Trabajo 01 May St. Peter & Paul Dia de San Pedro y San Pablo 29 June Peru’s Independence Day Fiestas Patrias 28 to 29 July Saint Rose of Lima Dia de Santa Rosa de Lima 30 August Battle of Angamos Combate de Angamos 08 October All Saints Day Dia de Todos los Santos 01 November Immaculate Conception Dia de la Immaculada Concepcion 08 December Christmas Day Navidad 25 December Official public holidays in Peru 2021, 2022 and 2023 On Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, Peruvian employees usually only work half a day.
It is quite common in the public and private sector to have a "puente" (bridging day) if a public holiday is on a Thursday or Tuesday; meaning government agencies, offices, banks and lots of companies are closed on the Friday after or the Monday before the holiday and employees have off.
But no matter if it’s a public holiday, banking holiday, bridging day or weekend most supermarkets, fruit and veggie markets, the little bodega around the corner, restaurants, tourist attractions and other shops are open (some might have shorter opening hours especially on Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and during Fiestas Patrias).
Feast days, festivals and other celebrations in Peru
Additional to the official public holidays valid throughout Peru, there are many other local feast days, festivals and celebrations in different Peruvian regions and cities that have a sort of "public holiday" character. They offer a good “excuse” to come together, celebrate, dance, have great Peruvian food and enjoy. Furthermore, Peru has many "Días nacionales" (national days) or "Días de ..." (special days) on which the country honors or celebrates important events of the past, its culture, food or natural resources.
Below find a list of holidays, feasts and celebrations in Peru. Just click on one that interests you to get to the article introducing you to this special day.
San José Festival near Trujillo – Feria de San José
Peruvian Public Holidays & FestivitiesEach year around March 19, the small beach town of Las Delicias, about 9 km (5.5 miles) south of the city of Trujillo, celebrates the Feria de San José in honor of its patron Saint Joseph.19 March
Peruvian Artisan Day – Dia del Artesano Peruano
Peruvian Public Holidays & FestivitiesMarch 19 is Saint Joseph’s Day, the principal feast day of Saint Joseph, who is believed to have been a carpenter or artisan in wood or even metal. In his memory countries around the globe pay homa...19 March
Easter in Peru
Peruvian Public Holidays & FestivitiesAround the globe the celebration of Easter, so the commemoration of Jesus’s crucifixion, burial and resurrection from the dead, is the most important festivity in the yearly calendar for Christians...End of March / beginning of April
National Peruvian Paso Horse Competition in Mamacona, Pachacamac, Lima
Peruvian Public Holidays & FestivitiesEach year around mid- to late-April the National Association of Breeders and Owners of Peruvian Paso Horses (ANCPCPP) organizes the Concurso Nacional Oficial del Caballo Peruano de Paso (the Nation...Mid- to late-April
Labor Day - Dia de los Trabajadores Peru
Peruvian Public Holidays & FestivitiesAs in many countries around the globe, Peru commemorates the labor movement and the achievement of workers’ rights on May 1.01 May
Virgen de Chapi in Arequipa
Peruvian Public Holidays & FestivitiesEach year between April 29 and May 2 Arequipa celebrates its patron saint, the Virgin of Chapi, with the largest religious festivity in the area. About 250,000 worshippers from across the country a...01 May
Festival of the Crosses - Fiesta de las Cruces in Peru
Peruvian Public Holidays & FestivitiesThe 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 mostly in towns in the Andean highlands on May 3.03 May
Alasitas Fair - Festival of the Crosses in Puno
Peruvian Public Holidays & FestivitiesIn 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, which has its origin in the indigenous Aymara culture,...Beginning of May
Mother’s Day in Peru
Peruvian Public Holidays & FestivitiesMother’s Day in Peru is celebrated on the second Sunday in May. Over 90% of Peruvians celebrate Mother’s Day; and they are extremely enthusiastic about honoring and praising their moms, dedicating ...Second Sunday in May
Peruvian Clown Day in Lima
Peruvian Public Holidays & FestivitiesEach year on May 25, Peru celebrates the Peruvian Clown Day in honor of José Alvarez Vélez, better known as Tony Perejil, a popular clown who died on that day in 1987.25 May
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