Religion in Peru

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

According to the 1993 Census, 89% of the Peruvian population over 12 years old declared themselves as catholics, 6.7% as evangelicals, 2.6% as of other denominations, 1.4% as non-religious and 0.2% did not specify any affiliation.^[1]

[edit] Catholic Church in Peru

Most peruvian people are catholic declared, although only two third part participate of the liturgy and services. The main authorities of this church are in Lima, Arequipa, Trujillo and Cusco. The most important celebration is in honour of Lord of Miracles, October festivities in Lima.

[edit] Popular celebrations

Popular celebrations are the product of every town's traditions and legends. These celebrations gather music, dances, meals and typical drinks. In addition to the religious celebrations like Christmas, Corpus Christi or Holy Week, there are others that express the syncretism of the indigenous peoples' beliefs with the Christians'. An example of this kind of celebration is the Alasitas (an Aymara word that, according to some studious people, would mean «buy me») that combines a crafts and miniatures fair with dances, meals and a mass. Another example is the peregrination of the Qoyllur Rit'i (Cuzco), that gathers the ancient cult to the apus (tutelary divinities of the mountains) with a peregrination to a Christian Sanctuary in a long trek to the top of a mountain, of more than 5000m above sea level, that is covered with snow. More than 6,000 people make this this trek every year and not all of them come back