1.- WHAT IS SANTURANTIKUY CUSCO?
The Santurantikuy Cusco is considered one of the most emblematic and traditional festivities that can be celebrated within the capital of the ancient Inca culture, the name comes from a Quechua word that was originally the language used during the Inca culture.
- Santuray: Vendor
- Tikuy: Saint
- Santurantikuy: Sale of the Saints
Traditionally what makes this handicraft market special is that it is held only once a year and it is on the eve of the Christmas holiday, from December 24 this place is filled with the most skilled artisans of the city where religious figures are traded, especially representations of the Virgin Mary, the baby Jesus and the many saints to which they have a devotion, of course you can also find articles and Christmas decorations which are used for the construction of the nativity scenes in each home.
2.- Origins of Santurantikuy Cusco
Although it is a little uncertain according to history we know that the Santurantikuy Cusco had its origin during colonial times, when the Spanish with the intention of promoting Catholicism to the Andean populations began the process of Catholicism as they introduced religious figures in the daily life of the Andean people. Particularly in the city of Cusco the representations were elaborated by local artists who used wood, ceramics and even cloth to be able to capture the Christian art, however they also introduced Andean elements which facilitated the empathy of the Andean people and easily allowed their conversion to the Catholic religion. Although initially the sale of these images was carried out in specific neighborhoods such as San Blas, the passage of time allowed it to be established in the main square of Cusco thus making the Santurantikuy Cusco was a cultural activity to be held on Christmas Eve, in this way people could come to buy ornaments for the manger of the baby Jesus making this moment a space of cultural exchange to see reflected as Andean and Catholic traditions had harmony.
Over time the Santurantikuy Cusco stopped being just a traditional market with religious purpose, it became a cultural festival that is considered one of the main tourist attractions of the city during the month of December, of course the sale of religious images is still the main point of visit however each year is innovated in creativity making it can also produce handicrafts such as Christmas ornaments and souvenirs that you can get. During the last decades the Santurantikuy Cusco has become an event of preservation and at the same time celebration of the Cusquenian identity making this moment a time to live the ancestral tradition allowing the size of the Santurantikuy Cusco and scope can be greater.
3.- A USEFUL TIP FOR YOUR TRIP
“The Santurantikuy Cusco contains the most options in terms of handicrafts, for this reason a great tip is that you can go through each of the stalls before making purchases, although the products are really beautiful you can always find a more affordable option, be careful with the emotions of enthusiasm as you could invest the entire budget in the first stall.”
4.- WHEN AND WHERE IS SANTURANTIKUY PERU 2024?
As a tradition the Santurantikuy Cusco is celebrated every year in the month of December, being more specific on the 24th on Christmas Eve. This celebration is unique and is a meeting point for both local people and travelers who come to the city from all over the world, it is organized in the main square of the city which is also considered the historical and cultural heart of Cusco.
The Santurantikuy Cusco is available for you from the early hours of the morning of December 24, from 06:00 am is already possible to appreciate how some of the small stalls that are installed begin to offer their products and crafts made with an ancestral legacy. As midday approaches the bustle and activity becomes greater, this is the time when Cusco families and tourists begin to be more crowded in each of the trading posts and the busiest time is undoubtedly from 17:00 pm to 19:00 pm, from this point forward the place begins to empty as each family returns home to make preparations for the Christmas holiday.
4.1.- How to get to the main square?
In fact it is quite simple, the main square is one of the most accessible places that you can find within the city however you must take into consideration that due to the internal arrangement its streets are not so wide so due to the concurrence of people it is a little complicated to get there by car, however you can always be the attempt to get as close as possible. The best alternative for this is undoubtedly walking since most of the hotels are located within the historic center either in the nearby squares such as Nazarenas, San Francisco or Regocijo. It will take you between two to five minutes to get to the main square.
5.- HIGHLIGHTS OF SANTURANTIKUY PERU 2024
During your visit to Santurantikuy Cusco you will discover that it is not only a handicraft market, in fact it is a place where you can find a mixture of culture, religion, gastronomy, art and many forms of entertainment making this adventure something unique that is worth living at least once in a lifetime.
5.1.- Local handicrafts
Undoubtedly the Santurantikuy Cusco is one of the places where the Peruvian handicrafts have an extremely important role, each artisan Cusco during this celebration can show the best of their work making known the legacy that has been inherited for generations, this directly reflects the ability of ancestral creativity that exists in the city giving the main character to the figure of the child Jesus that in the Andes is considered as the Niño Manuelito. This small figure has a religious and cultural importance so great that the devotion that is held is total besides being the traditional piece that requires more work when presenting it in the Santurantikuy Cusco, has this importance because it contains a mixture of Andean and colonial elements, usually is made of wood or ceramic depending on each artisan and highlights the fact that their clothing can be traditional to the Catholic religion or also with some Andean elements creating different styles that each Cusco family can choose.
5.2.- Jewelry and accessories
Something that very few people know is that the Santurantikuy Cusco is a perfect place where you can find jewelry options and at the same time handmade accessories, all based on precious metals such as silver, gold and precious stones highlighting products such as necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings that contain traditional patterns usually following the line of Inca culture with the use of geometric figures or even capturing local elements such as flora, fauna and others. They are not only aesthetic accessories, in fact each one is an element of history and quickly reflects the cultural heritage that is still alive.
5.3.- Local food
The gastronomy is also a fundamental aspect of the Santurantikuy Cusco, since apart from the stalls on Catholic images or other elements there are also options where you can taste local delicacies that allow you to know in a better way the Cusquenian cuisine, it is like a power to appreciate places where there are several options such as nougat Cusquenian, alfajores and more desserts, on the other hand it is also possible to find stalls of traditional street food such as salchipapa, anticucho and rice with egg, finally it is also popular to see how there are stalls selling the famous Peruvian pisco, coca tea and even ready to consume options such as the piteado tea.
5.4.- More products
There are also other elements that are quite popular within the Santurantikuy Cusco, one of them is undoubtedly the textile elements which are worked with alpaca wool as the main element resulting in incredible options such as sweaters, scarves and other items for everyday use. The ingenuity of the Cusquenian artisans has allowed the variety of options to be really incredible giving and allowing in this way that when a visitor comes to go through the many stalls of Santurantikuy Cusco can find at least one option to keep as a souvenir, among this you can find dolls, clothes for the nativity scene, animals made of ceramics and many other alternatives that show the ingenuity that exists.
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6.- FAQS ABOUT SANTURANTIKUY PERU 2024
- When does Santurantikuy 2024 take place?
The feast of Santurantikuy Cusco is celebrated every year on December 24 as a symbol of Christmas Eve.
- What is the significance of “Niño Manuelito” at Santurantikuy?
The child Manuelito represents the image of the baby Jesus. It has become an element of syncretism as a combination between the Andean belief and the Catholic religion brought by the Spaniards during the conquest.
- Are there any entry fees to the market?
No, the entrance is completely free since it is intended to be a cultural meeting point for all the people who visit the city during this time of the year.
- What types of handicrafts can I find at the event?
There are options from handicrafts in images made of wood or ceramics, souvenirs, ornaments, manger elements such as animals or saints, food, drinks and many other options.
- Is Santurantikuy Cusco a family-friendly event?
Yes, in fact it is considered that the Santurantikuy Cusco is one of the traditional places where the family can come together in a better way because there is an option for each person.
- How can I support local artisans during my visit?
The best form of support that you can have without a doubt is to be able to buy the handicrafts at the right price, many of the artisans invest a lot of time in each of their works so it is important not to ask for discounts and to be able to buy the local product.
To be able to tour the Santurantikuy Cusco is an experience that can only be lived once a year, if you want to be part of this we recommend you to have your reservation well in advance as it is quite popular among travelers around the world. Auri Peru designs unique and personalized adventures, it’s time to start yours, contact us and take the first step.
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