Semana Santa (Holy Week) begins on Sunday before Easter with Palm Sunday. People buy little palm crosses with flowers and herbs, take them to church to have them blessed before placing hem in their homes.
Second event - at least here in Cusco was the Dia de Senor de Los Temblores - a really BIG event where hundreds of thousands of people come out despite the rain to receive the blessing. Amazing.
Thursday and Friday are the public holidays here. Banks close but many shops remain open. Apparently schools close for the whole week so children can take part in all the activities.
Thursday is the celebration of the Last Supper. Along with hundreds of others we attended Mass in the Cathedral, standing room only - and joined a procession afterwards. Actually only went around inside the church before stopping in front of a large decorated alter in an annexe of the church. Oh well - not the sort of procession I was expecting, but I have come to expect the unexpected here. We were swept along with the crowd. No photos - I observed the signs!!
Thursday and Friday there was a food festival - La fiesta de lost 12 platos - commemorates the Last Supper (Ultima Cena) and featuring 12 particular traditional food dishes. We went to the Food Festival on Friday afternoon. There were lots of traditional fish (and particularly trout) dishes as well as vegetable dishes and lots of sweets. Wasn't the day to NOT feel like eating, but it was my turn to get the flu. @#$%$#%
We tasted several dishes....
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| Trout with peach salsa, pear pie, avocado cheesecake!! |
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| Thats's ONE potato!!! Funny story with this potato.... Was suggested that prospective daughter-in-law be given this potato to peel. If she can do it, she'll make a good daughter-in-law. Milka's response...."Too late!" |
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| SOME of the 4000 potato varieties in Peru. |
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| Causa ... delicious |
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| At the Food Festival |
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| Entertainment for the kids ..... smallest train ride ever!!! |
Sunday we went to Mass once again - an even bigger crowd than Thursday, and there were several sessions throughout the morning. and a military parade and flag raising ceremony in the plaza. We headed off for a delicious breakfast at Cicciolina.
I wonder if it will be the same in a few years' time?????
I'm sure there were many other services, parades and celebrations that we didn't encounter. Just as well we didn't follow through with original plans to do the Lares Trek over Easter - I've had the flu, it's been cold and rainy often. But the boys have have also spent time constructing a cold room for the brewery. I can't wait to see how it's progressing.... tomorrow.
On the hunt for Easter Eggs......
I didn't seen any Easter Eggs in shops, and they are certainly NOT a big feature of Easter in Peru, but apparently you can find some in speciality chocolate shops, and Milka surprised us with one!!! Thanks Milka
I wonder if it will be the same in a few years' time?????
1 comment:
It would be a shame for the easter eggs to take over... In Melbourne Easter seems to be about two things - easter eggs and the Royal Children's Hospital Fundraiser. Although I did get a taste of what the Jewish community do at this time of year when I helped a friend do dishes at a Jewish function...
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