Latin American festivals that you cannot miss
rio carnival
The Rio de Janeiro Carnival is a well-known event, held before Lent each year. It is considered as the largest carnival in the world with around 2 million people per day in the streets. The party dates back to 1723.
The Carnival includes Samba Schools, street carnivals, music and dances. It is celebrated on March 1 and 5 and February 9 and 18. The main carnival procession is held on Sunday and Monday nights after the above dates. The dates keep changing every year.
The four days and nights of Rio Carnival are the result of planning, practice and organization throughout the year. This carnival is the main event of Rio. The origins of this carnival are not known, but it is believed that it began as a pagan celebration. The festivities offer lots of free fun. Everyone is welcome to watch and participate.
Holy Week Easter Festival in Antigua, Guatemala
The first glimpses of Antigua consist of looming volcanoes, colorful houses, and cobblestone streets. It is also one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The religious occasion of Semana Santa or holy week was first introduced to Guatemala by its Spanish colonial masters. Holy Week or Holy Week is celebrated annually in Antigua, Guatemala between March 22 and April 23. The entire city of Antigua participates in the celebrations. Devotees in purple robes carry floats with images of the Blessed Virgin and Jesus on their shoulders. The floats are followed by marching funeral bands. Processions parade through the streets representing the last days of Jesus. From Monday to Thursday, several processions take the same course through the streets of Antigua, often lasting twelve hours. Antiguans make preparations for occasions months in advance.
Corpus Christi in Cusco
Although the Corpus Christi festivity is celebrated throughout Peru, its most impressive manifestation is found in Cuzco. Various processions of fifteen virgins and saints arrive from various places to the Cathedral of Cuzco to greet the body of Christ after sixty days of Resurrection Sunday. The sounds of the bell of the largest church in Peru, María Angola, can be heard during the day. María Angola was built by Diego Arias de la Cerda during the 16th century. Twelve different dishes are prepared and eaten the night before the actual celebration. The main day procession time is at 11am with many people thronging the Plaza de Armas to see the saints. Once the procession is over, the saints return to the cathedral.
After the Eighth or Seven days, the saints participate in another procession and then return to their original places. Corpus Chriti is a traditional festival, which also gives visitors from around the world a first-hand experience of the traditions and cultures of Peru.
Inti Raymi in Cuzco
The festival of the sun or Inti Raymi is a religious ritual of the Inca Empire in honor of one of the most respected gods of the Incas – Inti. Inti Raymi was created to celebrate the winter solstice and the New Year in the Andes. The celebration also indicated the mythical origin of the Incas. It encompassed nine days of processions, dances, and animal sacrifices to ensure good harvests. The last Inti Raymi was held in 1535, after which it was suppressed by the Catholic Church following the Spanish conquest. It was completely banned in 1572. On June 24 of each year, a theatrical representation of the Inti Raymi has been held in Cuzco. The celebration attracts thousands of visitors and tourists to Cuzco.
day of the dead in oaxaca mexico
The day of the dead or the day of the dead is celebrated in order to gather family and friends to remember and pray for the deceased. The celebration takes place on November 2. This date is related to the Christian festival of November 1 (All Saints’ Day) and November 2 (All Souls’ Day). Traditionally, the celebration includes the construction of altars with sugar skulls and other foods. Meals and parties are common at the time of the celebration. It is sometimes confused with Halloween. However, the two are completely different. Some people believe that the spirits of the dead eat the spirit of food. In some parts of Mexico, like the towns of Xoxocotlán on the outskirts of Oaxaca, people spend all night at the graves of their loved ones.
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