Christmas in Peru

For Peruvians, Christmas isn’t a quiet family holiday. Of course, locals spend quality time with their favorite people, but they don’t sit at home near the fireplace, watching Christmas movies.

The streets of Peruvian towns are always crowded on Christmas Eve, and the skies are lit up with colorful fireworks.

While some Peruvian Christmas customs are universal for all Christians, many are unique to the region, such as the Chocolatadas event, parades, and burning one’s old clothes.

Christmas Decorations in Peru

The focal point of Peruvian Christmas decorations is always the nativity scene depicting Mary, Joseph, Jesus in a manger, farm animals, shepherds, and the Magi.

Sometimes, nativity scenes also feature other biblical characters appearing in the nativity story.

Nativity scenes are often handmade by children in school or the entire family together. Even Peruvians who buy figurines at Christmas markets decorate the scene with natural plants.

Peruvians set up the nativity scene early in December but don’t put Jesus in his crib until Christmas Day. Usually, the honor of placing Jesus in the manger is bestowed to the youngest family member.

Snow-inspired decorations like snowflakes and snowmen aren’t widespread in Peru, but locals actively use other Christmas symbols like gifts, Christmas trees, angels, stars, bows, and candy cones.

Peruvian love everything that sparkles, so they adorn their homes, streets, and public places with fairy lights. Peruvian streets are lit up even at night. On each town square is a Christmas tree.

But since pine trees aren’t native to the region, Peruvians use creative alternatives from lights, plastic, metal, and other materials. Peruvians typically put up a faux Christmas tree adorned with baubles and tinsel at home.

Some locals refrain from a Christmas tree, but poinsettia native to Latin America is a must in every home.

You’re unlikely to find Christmas stockings in a Peruvian home because locals have no fireplaces to hang them on, but wreaths and garlands are popular.

Christmas Food in Peru

Christmas Eve dinner in Peru is somewhat similar to American but doesn’t lack local peculiarities. The main dish is traditionally roast turkey or roast suckling pig with tamales and salads on the side.

Tamales are a South American cuisine staple. These dough envelopes stuffed with minced meat and steamed in banana leaves are a must-try for every Peru visitor. Peruvian salads are far from the boring diced vegetable salads you may think of.

Peruvian Christmas salads include unusual ingredients like beans, eggs, quinoa, avocado, corn, and fruit purees.

Various tubers, such as potatoes, yucca, maca, and sweet potatoes, are also common, which isn’t surprising because most of these plants originated in South America.

Peruvians admire rice dishes, flavoring them with pork fat, fruits, spices, and steamed vegetables.

For dessert, Peruvians eat Italian-style panettone. Panettone is similar to British Christmas pudding but lighter and without alcohol, with distinct jasmine and citrus notes.

Another traditional Peruvian Christmas dessert is Tres Leches cake, made with sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and whole milk or cream.

Panettone is usually served with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate. Locals who prefer something punchier drink cold eggnog known as Poche de Huevo or tropical cocktails.

Gift Exchange Traditions

Peruvians exchange gifts with their loved ones for Christmas, just like Americans and Europeans. Many Peruvians celebrate Christmas in large groups but exchange gifts only with closest friends and immediate family.

Peruvian kids anticipate gifts from Santa Claus. Peruvian Santa Claus originated from Saint Nicholas, a fourth-century bishop from Myra, and is pretty similar to American Santa. He also has a long white beard and is plump and jolly.

However, Peruvian Santa doesn’t ride a sleigh pulled by reindeer and rarely wears a fur-trimmed suit because of the climate.

He enters homes through the window rather than the chimney and leaves gifts under the Christmas tree or in shoes.

Religious families bestow the honor of bringing gifts to children to Baby Jesus rather than Santa. No one sees him because parents tell kids that Baby Jesus is shy and will never return if they encounter him.

Interestingly, people in some regions refrain from exchanging gifts on Christmas and do it on The Three Kings’ Day or Epiphany, celebrated on January 6.

This practice makes perfect sense because the Magi brought gifts to Jesus not on his birthday but later.

Church Services

Many Peruvians meet the arrival of Christmas Day at church. People attend the Midnight Mass at about 10 p.m. to read biblical passages, sing hymns, and pray.

When the clock strikes midnight, everyone rejoices, celebrating the birth of Christ. Peruvian churches typically have life-sized nativity scenes set up where people can pray. Some locals leave small gifts for Jesus near his crib.

Peru has plenty of churches, the most popular among tourists being Cusco Cathedral, built in the 17th century, and Lima Metropolitan Cathedral, consecrated in 1540.

However, locals go to whatever cathedral is closer to their home. After the Midnight Mass, locals head outside to fire fireworks. Some people also attend the Christmas Day church service, but most prefer to relax after festivities.

Chocolatadas

Chocolatadas is a long-standing Peruvian Christmas tradition that started with locals sharing food and other supplies with less fortunate people within their communities. Nowadays, the practice is prevalent in isolated mountainous regions.

Peruvians gather money a few weeks before Christmas to organize the Chocolatadas event. Volunteers give out panettone, hot chocolate, and toys to Peruvian children from disadvantaged communities.

Often, gifts are prepared in excess because predicting how many kids will show up is challenging, so some kids get two toys and an extra mug of hot chocolate. The traditional Peruvian hot chocolate recipe contains cinnamon and orange peel.

Apart from getting gifts and treats, children are entertained with games, folk dance shows, and music. This heartfelt Peruvian Christmas custom embraces the very meaning of the holiday and lets disadvantaged people feel they aren’t forgotten.

Recently, locals started taking the event outside Christmas celebrations and helping poor communities year-round. Perhaps, we should all learn from generous Peruvians.

Parades

Peruvian Christmas celebrations are never dull. Major towns organize annual parades with colorful floats featuring holiday characters, folk dancing, traditional music, and fireworks.

Locals dress up as spiritual and religious characters. Festivities usually take place in central city squares where people can enjoy traditional food and meet with friends.

Carnivals aren’t a uniquely Christmas tradition, though. Peruvians host festivals year-round for every public celebration.

Christmas Markets

Christmas markets are typically considered a European tradition, but Peruvians also fancy holiday shopping. Peruvian Christmas markets are different from those in the Northern Hemisphere, though.

You won’t find an ice-skating rink, a giant fragrant fir, mulled wine, or wooden stalls at Peruvian Christmas markets. Unlike holiday fairs in Europe that last throughout the entire December, markets in Peru last only for a few days.

The largest Christmas market in the country takes place in Cusco. People sell various arts, crafts, gifts, ornaments, and food, but the event’s focal point is always handmade nativity scene figurines.

Even the market’s name, Santurantikuy Christmas Fair, translated as “saints for sale,” indicates its purpose.

Cusco Christmas market is a perfect place to find moss, hay, and other plants for the nativity scene or home decoration. Smaller towns also host holiday fairs.

Summer Fun

Peruvians celebrate Christmas in summer. While Europeans and Northern Americans anticipate a white Christmas, Peruvians engage in various summer activities like tanning on the beach, surfing, swimming, and diving.

Many locals go on road trips with their families and friends, exploring the fantastic nature of their homeland. Others do sports, whether cycling, hiking, or mountaineering.

Peruvian students enjoy a summer break for Christmas, so they can go all out with celebrations and rest for a week afterward.

Fireworks

If you visit any South American country for Christmas, you’re likely to witness fantastic firework shows, and Peru isn’t an exception. You can buy fireworks everywhere, including stalls on the streets, and there are no age limits, so even kids fire them.

Everyone gets to enjoy the breathtaking show of vibrant explosions on Christmas Eve, no matter where you are.

Peruvian Christmas fireworks can surprise even Americans accustomed to July 4 firework shows. On July 4, the show is carefully prepared and controlled, but Peruvians go wild with their pyrotechnics.

Usually, Peruvians start firing fireworks at midnight, but because clocks aren’t synchronized, and some people aren’t patient enough, the sky is lit up from about 10 p.m. until well over midnight.

Burning Old Clothes

Peruvians burn their old clothes and other things they no longer need the following year on Christmas Day. These rituals occur across the country.

Peruvians believe that burning old clothes helps start the year from a blank page and free one’s life from negativity.