THE 11 MOST IMPORTANT CULTURAL MANIFESTATIONS OF PERU - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The cultural manifestations of Peru derive from the Inca heritage and its subsequent mixtures with the white Spanish, black from Africa and eastern Japan. The creation of ceramic objects, lithosculpture, metallurgy and textiles stand out.

In addition, expressions such as painting, architecture and a great diversity of traditional festivals where different types of music and dance are mixed.

Traditional dance in Puente Piedra, Lima. Photo by Adrian Dascal on Unsplash

Peru is one of the twenty largest countries in the world and has a great diversity of cultural manifestations also due to its geography. In this country there are three well demarcated regions: the coast, the mountains and the jungle. Each of them has a great cultural wealth.

The cultural manifestations of Peru are kept alive mainly among Quechua, Aymara, Ashaninka peasants and other peoples of the Amazon.

Peru was the cradle of the Inca civilization during the 15th and 16th centuries, but centuries before Christ it already harbored populations that left a great cultural legacy.

Among the most recognized cultural manifestations of Peru are gastronomy and the liveliness of its traditional festivals. There are more than fifty parties a year, in which a display of music, dance and colors takes place.

Main cultural manifestations of Peru

1- Dances

Women Dancing in the Festival of the Virgen de la Candelaria.

One of the most traditional cultural manifestations of Peru is dance. The cultural syncretism developed in this Latin American region is evident in every dance show.

There are different types of dance; one of them is the ceremonial dance, which is performed during rituals and is associated with activities such as irrigation, harvesting or sowing.

Other types of dance are the ballroom dance, such as the Peruvian Polka; and the agricultural, which expresses the relationship of man with the land and its production.

There is also the carnival dance, which is mixed with ancestral rites, the sexual initiation of young people and the mating of animals; and, finally, the hunting dance, such as the Llipi Puli, which represents the hunting of various animals.

2- Music

Peruvian music is another cultural manifestation of great importance. It is not precisely related to the show but to nature, society and divinity.

To refer to music and also to dance, manifestations that Peruvians consider the same element, the word "taki" is used.

Various musical instruments were inherited from the Inca Empire, which later evolved by merging with others from Europe.

The best known instruments are the pomatinyas, a kind of drum made of puma skin; and the guayllaquepas, trumpets made with strombus, a type of seashell.

3- Gastronomy

Peruvian ceviche, a delicacy that has crossed borders. Photo by Pirata Studio Film on Unsplash

Peruvian gastronomy is one of the main cultural manifestations of Peru; since 2003 Unesco recognized it as intangible cultural heritage of the world, and since 2007 it is considered national heritage.

Thanks to its originality, aroma, flavor, texture and variety, it has become one of the best cuisines in the world.

Pollerías, chifitas de barrio, picanterías, anticuchos, cevicherías and Nikkei cuisine are the traditional places where it is possible to try dishes such as arroz chaufa, ají de gallina, causa rellena, olluquito con charqui and chicha morada.

4- Popular art

The Virgin and Child, by Bernardo Bitti, an Italian painter who developed his work in Lima.

The largest celebration of popular art takes place in the Plaza Mayor in the city of Cuzco. There the artisans offer their works at very cheap prices.

In Peru there is a strong relationship with work, ancestors and the community to which one belongs. For this reason, these concepts are printed in the form of drawings on all manual or artisan products that are made.

Families inherit for generations the development of techniques for making various handcrafted pieces, in which beauty and wisdom are combined.

5- Historical heritage

Machu Pichu, one of the new seven wonders of the modern world.

Peru preserves important constructions that are considered historical heritage of humanity.

The Machu Pichu Historical Sanctuary is one of them. It is an architectural work built in 1450, between the eastern slope of the central mountain range, in southern Peru.

During the Inca Empire it was an important ceremonial center, but at one time it became the palace of the main leaders.

Another construction considered historical heritage is the Archaeological Center of Chavín, built between 1,500 and 500 BC.

Other important monuments are the Chan Chan archaeological zone, a city that was under the rule of the Inca Empire; and the sacred city of Caral, 5,000 years old. The latter is considered the oldest city in America.

6- Traditional festivals

The traditional festivals of Peru are related to religion and indigenous roots.

Among the most recognized festivals is that of Qoyllur Riti, a religious festival that takes place in the months of May and June, on the slopes of the snowy Ausangate, in the Cuzco region.

The renovation ritual of the Queshuachaca bridge, in the Cusco province of Canas, is also an important cultural manifestation of Peru. It lasts four days and is developed around a working model used in times of the Inca Empire, known as "minka".

La Eshuva, the Fiesta de la Virgen de la Candelaria and Corpus Christi are other important traditional festivals in Peru.

7- Textiles

Peruvian handmade wool fabric.

The manual elaboration of textiles is another cultural manifestation of Peru, developed since the pre-Inca period.

Peruvian textiles are famous worldwide for being considered authentic; the inputs used are highly valued, including alpaca fiber and Pima cotton. The most recognized is the textile of Taquile, in the Puno region.

8- Medicines

Traditional medicinal forms were for a long time considered a cultural manifestation in Peru, thanks to the preservation of indigenous traditions.

Currently the diversity of medicinal plants is the input for the production of allopathic drugs.

9- Crafts

Woman weaving. Photo by Willian Justen de Vasconcellos on Unsplash

Peruvian crafts originate from the ancient civilizations that inhabited the island, especially the Pucara, Tiahuanaco, Colla and Inca cultures.

The best known crafts are stone sculptures, ceramics and textiles.

10- Languages

Andean woman. Photo by Adrian Dascal on Unsplash

Peru has more than 60 languages, of which 17 are Amazonian language families; These are subdivided into 39 different languages, with their own dialects. The Aymara language and Quechua are still the most used.

11- Traditional dress

Traditional Peruvian hats. Photo by Flavius ​​Torcea on Unsplash

Peru is a very recognizable nation in the world for its traditional clothing. Ponchos, blankets, tunics, hats, chullos or dresses are usually very striking for their colors and their originality.

Cataloged as ethnic clothing, the thickness of most of its garments stands out to protect itself from the cold of areas such as the Andean.

References

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2. Mendez, Cecilia (1993) Incas yes, Indians no: notes for the study of Creole nationalism in Peru. IEP, Lima.
3. Bolaños, C. (1981). Music and dance in ancient Peru. National Museum of Anthropology and Archeology, National Institute of Culture.
4. Cook, I. and Crang, P. (1996). The world on a plate: Culinary culture, displacement and geographi - cal knowledges. Journal of Material Culture, 1 (2), 131-153.
5. Matta, R. (2010). "L'indien" à table dans les grands restaurants de Lima (Pérou). Anthropology of food, 7, Retrieved on July 25, 2011, from aof.revues.org