THE 5 MOST POPULAR HUÁNUCO CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

Among the most important customs and traditions of Huánuco are the Huanuco Carnival, the Festival de los Negritos, the Fiesta de San Juan, the Fiesta del Sol and the Anniversary of the Spanish Foundation of Huánuco.

All these traditional festivities are part of the festive folklore of the department of Huánuco, located in the central region of the country.

Both the geographical location and the cultural richness product of the fusion of the Inca, Creole and mestizo cultures during more than 500 years of history, have been determining factors in its folklore.

Huanuqueño Carnival

This festival is celebrated throughout Peru, but in the case of Huánuco, the carnival begins one week before the end of February, unlike other regions of the country that celebrate it throughout the month.

Among the activities that are part of this festival are the beauty pageant "Miss Carnival", for which a preliminary presentation of the candidates that are promoted is made so that the public can choose them.

During the three days that this joyous festival lasts, dances, musical groups, parades, tree cuttings and typical foods are presented in the street that characterize the Huánuco carnivals.

Families congregate in the streets and squares to accompany the activities and enjoy the dances and music.

Festival of the Negritos

In addition to being a traditional dance, Los Negritos constitute a celebration commemorating Christmas in 1648, when a rich landowner from this region freed his black slaves.

To celebrate this event the black manumisos (liberated) danced around a Nativity.

This tradition takes place between December 25 and January 19. Cofradías de Los Negritos and comparsas, walk the streets dancing and wearing the colorful costumes typical of this dance, until they reach the portal where they await the birth of the Child Jesus.

Saint John festivity

This is another of the traditions and celebrations of the Huanuqueño people. It is a festival of a symbolic nature, because it exalts the value of water as a vital element of the Peruvian Amazon region.

During the San Juan festival, which is celebrated on June 24, musical bands and typical dishes of the department are presented that are tasted by the public.

Sun party

The Sun Festival, also known as Inti Raymi, is another recently created custom but already deeply rooted in this Andean-Amazon region.

In this grandiose outdoor theatrical performance, the Sun god is worshiped, who represents the source of life for the Incas.

During the ceremony the sun is thanked for the good harvests obtained during the year and is asked for the prosperity of the region in the following years.

The first time this ritual festival was staged was on July 27, 1997, in the main square (Ushno) in the Wanuko Marka Archaeological Complex.

Anniversary of the Spanish Foundation of Huánuco

On August 15 of each year, the day of the founding of the city of Huánuco is commemorated. The city was founded in 1539 by Pedro Gómez de Alvarado.

The homeland anniversary is celebrated with formal acts and an agricultural, craft and industrial fair; Musical groups are also presented and excursions are organized to visit the main tourist attractions of the department.

References

1. Festivities in Huanuco. Retrieved on November 23, 2017 from enperu.org
2. Huanuco. Consulted of beautifulperu.galeon.com
3. Peru. Consulted from everyculture.com
4. Culture of Peru. Consulted from www.discover-peru.org
5. Traditions and customs in Peru. olgazaconetta.blogspot.com
6. Sun Festival in Wanuko Marka. Consulted of deperu.com
7. Traditions that are preserved in Peru. Consulted of es.slideshare.net