FIESTA DE LA CANDELARIA

A Wonderful Cultural Celebration with ancient music, dance and traditional food.

***ORIGIN****

The history of FIESTA DE LA CANDELARIA celebration , begins in 1781.

It was then that the city of Puno was governed by Spanish magistrate Joaquín de Orellana and the city was under siege by the rebel troops of Túpac Amaru II. Fearful of the coming attack, the people of the city brought out the statue of the Candelaria and began a procession in which they danced, played their zampoñas (Pan Pipes) and lit candles. The massive noisy demonstration that lasted throughout the night confused the rebel army and they decided to leave the area.

For the Aymara people the dead are divinities and are still thought of that way 500 year after conversion to Catholicism. The veneration of the Candelaria is itself just a replacement for the old religion of worshipping Pachamama – Mother Earth.

** Doors open at 3:00 pm Show starts 6:00 pm.