Peruvian food

The three main staples of Peruvian food are corn, potatoes, and beans. Different regions of the country have different specialties. In the Andean mountains, cuy (guinea pig) is a delicacy. It is usually served whole (see left), but does not have too much meat on it. The meat that is there is a bit greasy, and does not taste good.

A much better option is alpaca meat, often served like a hamburger.

On the coast, ceviche is one of the most popular dishes. It consists of white fish, marinated raw in lime juice and chilis.

Desserts are often flavored with a rare fruit called lucuma, an orange-colored fruit, grown exclusively in the Andes. Dulce de leche, a caramel topping, is also a popular option for dessert.

Inti Raymi

Recreations of the sacrifice for Inti Raymi

One of the most important festivals in Peru, and the second-largest in all of South America is Inti Raymi, celebrated in Cusco.

During Inti Raymi, the Inca people would sacrifice an animal (usually a llama) to Inca, Son of the Sun, to ensure good crops in the year to come. Every year, the ceremony takes place on the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year (in June in the southern hemisphere) to invite the sun back.

In 1572, Spanish conquistadors banned the ceremony for being Pagan, and not in line with the Catholic faith, so the holiday went underground. Today, however, a theatrical version of the ceremony is staged every year at Saqsayhuaman. Peruvians and tourists travel to Cusco in the hundreds of thousands every June to participate in the ceremony or one of the many parades that take place in the town center.

Assignment #6: Holidays

Your next assignment is holidays. You can do one of two things for this assignment. First, you could tell us about holidays that are unique to your country. Maybe it is an independence day, or a holiday celebrating a special event in that country. You could also tell us about traditions for holidays that are celebrated all over the world (i.e. Christmas or New Year's.) Be sure to include pictures!