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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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Anniversary of Arequipa

Peruvian Public Holidays & Festivities
Founded by the Spaniard Garcí Manuel de Carbajal on August 15, 1540, Arequipa celebrates its anniversary each year enthusiastically with festivities throughout the month of August.
15 August

Peruvian Coffee Day – Dia del Café Peruano

Peruvian Public Holidays & Festivities
As with so many other national products, coffee has its own day of celebration in Peru. Since 2008 the last Friday of August is dedicated to Peruvian coffee and promoted with tastings, fairs and special offers.
4th Friday of August

Saint Rose of Lima - Santa Rosa de Lima

Peruvian Public Holidays & Festivities
Already in the 17th century Pope Clemente X designated August 30 to Saint Rose of Lima, the patron saint of Lima, Peru, the Americas and the Philippines. And still today, this day is a public holiday in Peru honoring the devoted and selfless patroness.
30 August

Mistura

Peruvian Public Holidays & Festivities
Mistura is, or unfortunately correctly until 2017, was the largest and most important food festival in Latin America. Held annually in Lima, it attracted hundreds of thousands of national and international visitors putting the Peruvian capital and Peru on the gastronomic world map.
September

Day of the Peruvian Cuisine and Gastronomy

Peruvian Public Holidays & Festivities
Each year on the second Sunday in September, Peruvians celebrate the Dia de la Cocina y Gastronomia Peruana (Day of the Peruvian cuisine and gastronomy) recognizing the importance and value of the diverse local cuisine in the country and abroad.
2nd Sunday of September

Lord of Miracles - Señor de los Milagros

Peruvian Public Holidays & Festivities
October is the purple month in Lima and Limeños pay homage to their most venerated religious figure: El Señor de los Milagros or also known as Cristo de Pachacamilla. Often dressed in purple frocks, worshippers carry an image of the Lord of Miracles, the patron saint of Lima, in huge processions throughout the city.
Throughout October

Day of the Creole Song - Dia de la Cancion Criolla

Peruvian Public Holidays & Festivities
While on October 31 most think of Halloween, Peru celebrates on that day the Day of the Creole Song (Dia de la Cancion Criolla), an important part of the coastal culture of the country.
31 October

Bullfight festival in Lima

Peruvian Public Holidays & Festivities
November is the time of the year in Lima that many await and lots despise: the Feria Taurina del Señor de los Milagros, the largest bullfight festival in Peru, is held in Lima’s renowned Plaza de Acho.
Sundays in November

All Saints’ Day and Day of the Dead in Peru

Peruvian Public Holidays & Festivities
As so many other religious festivities in the country the celebration of All Saints’ Day (Día de Todos los Santos Vivos) and All Souls’ Day (Day of the Dead - Día de los Difuntos) is a mixture of Christians elements brought to Peru by the Spanish conquerors and ancient indigenous traditions.
01 and 02 November

Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary

Peruvian Public Holidays & Festivities
As much of the Catholic world Peru celebrates the Day of the Immaculate Conception on December 8th as a public holiday.
08 December
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