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Peruvian Public Holidays & Festivities (2021, 2022 & 2023)

Official Public Holidays and Festivities in Peru

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 - EnglishFestivo - SpanishDate/Dates
New Year’s Day Año Nuevo 01 January
Holy Thursday Jueves Santo 01 April 2021
14 April 2022
06 April 2023
Good Friday Viernes Santo 02 April 2021
15 April 2022
07 April 2023
Easter Sunday Pascua 04 April 2021
17 April 2022
09 April 2023
Labor 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.

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San José Festival near Trujillo – Feria de San José

Peruvian Public Holidays & Festivities
Each 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 & Festivities
March 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 homage to artisans and craft-workers on this day.
19 March

Easter in Peru

Peruvian Public Holidays & Festivities
Around 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; Peru, where over 80% of the population is catholic and another more or less 12% evangelic protestant, is no exception.
End of March / beginning of April
Each 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 National Peruvian Paso Horse Competition), one of the two most important horse competitions of the country in Mamacona near Pachacamac, about 30 km (19 mile...
Mid- to late-April

Labor Day - Dia de los Trabajadores Peru

Peruvian Public Holidays & Festivities
As 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 & Festivities
Each 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 and abroad make a pilgrimage to her sanctuary at that time either walking for 15 hours or more through the night, joining later or arriving by car or bus.
01 May

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 mostly in towns in the Andean highlands on May 3.
03 May

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, which has its origin in the indigenous Aymara culture, actually lasts 8 to 10 days.
Beginning of May

Mother’s Day in Peru

Peruvian Public Holidays & Festivities
Mother’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 themselves to make this day extra special.
Second Sunday in May

Peruvian Clown Day in Lima

Peruvian Public Holidays & Festivities
Each 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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