Christmas traditions in Peru are truly something special. Every December, the whole country transforms into a living mosaic of lights, aromas, and devotion that cannot be seen at any other time of the year. It feels like a nostalgic time, full of traditions, traditions that come from our parents and grandparents and that we now share every year in community.
What makes Peruvian celebrationunique is the way it unites the sacred and the festive. Midnight Masses fill colonial churches with songs and candles, while outside, fireworks light up the sky and families embrace. In the nacimientos, the sheep are replaced by llamas and alpacas; the tables are filled with both roasted turkey and pachamanca cooked underground; and families do not wait for December 25, but celebrate from Christmas Eve, staying awake past midnight to share dinner, gifts, and the affection of being together.
In this article, we will go through the main traditions of Peru, discovering its most representative festivities, its folkloric dances, its religious rituals, and the best of its typical gastronomy. An invitation to learn how faith, family, and food intertwine to give life to one of the warmest, most authentic, and most emotional celebrations in all of Latin America.
Weather during Christmas in Peru
Christmas traditions in Peru are shaped by summer weather, December 25th sits right in the middle of the Southern Hemisphere’s hottest months. This changes everything about how people celebrate.
Lima and the coast sit around 75°F, warm enough that families head to the beach between church services. Up north in Máncora, you’re looking at 78°F days, with ocean breezes cutting the heat. No rain this time of year on the coast, just hazy skies and that marine layer Lima always has.
The mountains are different. Cusco hits 68°F during the day, but December starts the rainy season. Expect clouds and rain most days. Machu Picchu runs cooler, 63°F highs, 47°F at night. You’ll want layers. Mornings are damp and cold, afternoons might warm up, then everything drops again once the sun sets.
The Amazon is hot and wet. Temperatures push 86°F, rainfall tops 10 inches for the month. Rivers rise, the jungle floods, everything turns green. The humidity makes it feel hotter than it is. Rain comes in bursts though, not all day, and the high water actually opens up parts of the forest you can’t reach other times of year.
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Christmas fair in Cusco held during the month of December.
When is Christmas Eve and Christmas in Peru?
In Peru, the main celebration doesn’t happen on December 25th as you might expect. Instead, the heart of Christmas traditions in Peru takes place on December 24th, known as Nochebuena, or “Good Night”. This year, that falls on Wednesday, December 24th, when families gather for their most important celebration of the season.
While Thursday, December 25th is still recognized as Christmas Day, it’s typically a quieter affair spent resting after the festivities of the night before.
The spiritual heart of Peruvian Christmas
The Christmas traditions in Peru are deeply rooted in faith and family. Unlike the increasingly commercialized celebrations in many Western countries, we maintains a profound spiritual character that brings communities together in shared devotion. The season is less about gift-giving frenzy and more about reflection, gratitude, and connection with both the divine and loved ones.
This spiritual emphasis manifests in multiple ways throughout the season. Families spend weeks preparing elaborate nativity scenes, attend multiple religious services, and participate in processions and celebrations that honor the birth of Christ. Even the Eve dinner, while festive and abundant, begins with prayers and blessings that acknowledge the sacred nature of the occasion.
The reverence Peruvians show during Christmas reflects the country’s strong Catholic identity, but it also incorporates something uniquely Peruvian—a warmth and inclusivity that welcomes everyone to the table, regardless of economic status. Churches open their doors to all, and wealthier families often share their celebrations with those less fortunate through charitable events called “chocolatadas,” where hot chocolate and panettone are distributed to children in need.
f you want to experience the best of the Imperial City during this festive season, Cusco day tours are the perfect way to explore the city’s rich traditions, stunning landmarks, and holiday celebrations, because they offer a unique chance to witness this warmth and community spirit firsthand.
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The influence of catholicism and indigenous heritage
What makes the Christmas traditions in Peru truly remarkable is the beautiful blend of Catholic traditions brought by Spanish colonizers and indigenous Andean beliefs that have survived for centuries. This cultural syncretism is visible in nativity scenes that feature the Niño Manuelito, an Andean version of baby Jesus, along with details that reflect indigenous worldviews coexisting with Catholic beliefs.
During the colonial period, Andean artists reinterpreted Spanish culture by assimilating European techniques and adapting them to indigenous resources and practices, blending European artistic themes with ancestral ones. Under the guise of Christian imagery, ancient Andean myths and rituals were perpetuated and continue to this day.
You’ll see this syncretism everywhere during Navidad. Nativity figures might wear traditional Andean ponchos and chullos (knitted hats). The shepherds in these scenes often resemble highland farmers with their llamas instead of sheep. Some families even incorporate offerings to Pachamama (Mother Earth) into their celebrations, acknowledging both Christ and the earth that sustains them.
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Nochebuena: Christmas Eve Celebrations
Nochebuena on December 24th is when Peru’s main Christmas celebrations occur, with most Peruvians attending church for the Rooster Mass and having dinner after midnight. The evening typically begins around 10 PM as families dress in their finest clothes and head to church together.
After Mass, families return home where the dining table awaits, laden with carefully prepared dishes. This is when the real celebration begins. Unlike some countries where gifts are exchanged on morning, in Peru the tradition unfolds on Christmas Eve after the special dinner and Midnight Mass, with families gathering around the Christmas tree or nativity scene to exchange presents.
Misa de Gallo
The Misa de Gallo, or Rooster Mass, is a special church service that normally starts at 10 PM on Christmas Eve. The name “Rooster Mass” comes from the belief that a rooster was the first creature to announce the birth of Jesus at midnight.
These services are among the most beautiful and well-attended of the entire year. Churches pull out all the stops, decorating their altars with flowers, candles, and elaborate nativity displays. Choirs rehearse for weeks to perform traditional carols and hymns. The Mass itself is often longer and more elaborate than regular Sunday services, featuring special readings, processions, and sometimes even theatrical reenactments of the nativity story.
In some communities, particularly in the Andes, the Misa de Gallo includes indigenous musical instruments like zampoñas (pan flutes) and charangos (small stringed instruments), creating a unique sound that blends Catholic liturgy with Andean musical traditions.
Nativity scenes and religious customs
Nativity scenes, called “nacimientos” or “pesebres” in Peru, are central to Christmas decorations. During Christmas in Peru, Andean people put together nacimientos in churches and homes, perform dances and plays, and cook typical dishes. These aren’t simple arrangements of a few figurines, they’re often elaborate miniature landscapes that can take up entire corners of living rooms.
The Pesebre features Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, the shepherds, and the Three Wise Men, and can be seen in homes, public spaces, and churches throughout the country. But Peruvian nativity scenes go far beyond these basic figures. Families add mountains made of crumpled paper covered in moss, rivers created with aluminum foil and blue fabric, and entire villages with dozens of figurines representing everyone from bakers to musicians.
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Popular Peruvian nativity scene displayed in homes during Christmas.
Christmas traditions in Peru
In this guide about Christmas traditions in Peru, we’ll explore the main customs that define the holiday across the country’s diverse geography, from the midnight masses and elaborate nativity scenes found throughout Peru to the regional variations in food, music, and celebration styles that make each area’s festivities unique. Whether you’re planning to experience a Peruvian Christmas firsthand or simply want to understand how this South American nation celebrates the season, you’ll discover traditions that honor both the sacred and the festive, creating a holiday experience unlike any other in the world.
Coastal Christmas Celebrations
Along Peru’s Pacific coast, Christmas feels lighter and more relaxed, shaped as much by the ocean breeze and the southern summer heat as by centuries of Catholic devotion. In Lima, the capital perched on sea cliffs, the celebration blends colonial faith with cosmopolitan life.
Historic churches such as San Francisco, La Merced, and Virgen del Carmen in Barranco fill with worshippers for Misa de Gallo (Midnight Mass), their baroque interiors glowing under candlelight. Outside, the city shimmers with extravagant light displays that transform neighborhoods into radiant corridors of color. Families stroll through Miraflores and Barranco, where plazas host open-air concerts and markets offering handmade ornaments, nativity figurines, and sweets.
On the coast, the heat reshapes the feast. While turkey and pork remain traditional staples, it’s common to start dinner with ceviche, Peru’s iconic dish of lime-cured fish, or tiradito (sashimi-style seafood with chili sauce). It’s fresh, coastal, and perfectly suited for a 25°C summer night. Dinner often moves outdoors—on terraces, patios or gardens.
Further north and south, in small fishing towns like Máncora, Chiclayo, and Pisco, people decorate their boats with lights and religious icons. These floating shrines drift gently in the harbor, reflecting across the waves in a spectacle both festive and spiritual. After Mass, families often walk along the beach barefoot, the warm sand and sea breeze adding to the serenity of the night.
Andean Highland Traditions
In the Andean highlands, Christmas reveals its deepest cultural roots. Here the Christmas traditions in Peru blends Spanish colonial customs with indigenous Andean spirituality, creating one of the most meaningful expressions of syncretism in Latin America.
In Cusco, Christmas culminates with Santurantikuy, a massive artisan fair held every December 23–24 in the Plaza de Armas. Craftsmen from nearby villages, Pisac, Chinchero, and Paucartambo, arrive to sell hand-carved nativity scenes, pottery, and the beloved Niño Manuelito figurines, dressed in Andean attire. The fair captures the essence of Christmas in the mountains: creativity, devotion, and a sense of community. After experiencing the festive atmosphere of Cusco, continue your adventure with the 5 Day Salkantay Trek, where you’ll trek through stunning Andean landscapes, visit ancient Inca ruins, and immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the Sacred Valley.
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Inside homes, nativity scenes (nacimientos) often include llamas, alpacas, and highland villagers wearing chullos (ear-flap hats) and polleras (layered skirts). It’s a powerful symbol of how Andean communities have made the Nativity their own, merging biblical imagery with ancestral identity.
The highland Christmas table tells another story. Instead of turkey, families often prepare pachamanca, a feast cooked underground with hot stones. Layers of marinated meats, potatoes, corn, and beans cook slowly beneath the earth, paying homage to Pachamama (Mother Earth). In colder areas like Puno or Ayacucho, the warmth of this meal is both practical and spiritual.
The soundscape is uniquely Andean. During Misa de Gallo, zampoñas (pan flutes), quenas (bamboo flutes), and charangos accompany the choir, filling centuries-old churches with haunting melodies that echo through stone walls. Outside, processions of children carry candles and images of the Christ child through narrow colonial streets.
Highland Christmas also features ritual dances and plays that reinterpret Christian stories through Andean symbolism. The Qhapaq Qolla dancers, dressed in masks and embroidered costumes, represent merchants bringing offerings to baby Jesus. The Majeños depict travelers from Arequipa, while the Saqras, demon-like tricksters, symbolize the struggle between good and evil, adding humor and theatricality.
Amazon Region Festivities
In cities like Iquitos, Pucallpa, and Tarapoto, homes and churches are decorated with palm leaves, tropical flowers, and lights that flicker like fireflies. Midnight Mass often happens outdoors, under starlit skies or thatched-roof chapels. Choirs sing villancicos accompanied by guitars, drums, and flutes made from local wood.
After the service, families share a meal that blends Christian tradition with Amazonian flavors. Instead of roasted turkey, the centerpiece might be paiche or doncella, river fish wrapped in bijao leaves and grilled over wood fires. Other staples include juanes (rice parcels seasoned with turmeric and wrapped in leaves), tacacho con cecina (mashed plantains with dried pork), and inchicapi, a comforting chicken soup made with peanuts, yuca, and cilantro.
Communities along the rivers hold Pastoreadas Navideñas, joyful processions reenacting the Nativity. Children dressed as angels and shepherds march through villages carrying baby Jesus figurines, followed by dancers, fireworks, and drums echoing through the jungle night.
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Peruvian panettone during Christmas
Traditional food at Christmas
The Christmas Eve dinner, called “cena de Navidad,” is a feast that families prepare with great care and anticipation. While roasted turkey has become popular in recent decades, many traditional families still prefer chancho al horno (roasted pork) or lechón as their centerpiece. The pork is marinated for at least 24 hours in a blend of garlic, ají panca (Peruvian red pepper paste), vinegar, cumin, oregano, and beer or chicha, creating incredibly flavorful and tender meat with crispy, golden skin.
Beyond the main protein, tables groan under the weight of countless side dishes: creamy potato salads dressed with mayonnaise, apples, raisins, and peas (ensalada rusa), fresh green salads, warm dinner rolls, tamales filled with chicken or pork, and arroz árabe, a festive rice dish cooked with butter, nuts (usually pecans or almonds), and raisins that adds a sweet-savory element to the plate. Many families also serve applesauce or cranberry sauce, particularly those preparing turkey.
The dessert after a Peruvian dinner is the most traditional part: paneton and hot chocolate. Paneton is a sweet, dome-shaped bread studded with candied fruits (especially candied orange), raisins, and sometimes chocolate chips. It’s made from an enriched dough with eggs, butter, and milk, often flavored with orange essence or vanilla.
Though it originates from Italy’s panettone, Peruvians have adopted it so thoroughly that it’s become synonymous with Christmas itself. Grocery stores dedicate entire aisles to different brands and varieties starting in November, with D’Onofrio being the most iconic Peruvian brand.
The hot chocolate or Chocolatada is served alongside paneton is not your typical cocoa mix. Peruvian Christmas hot chocolate is prepared by melting bars of bitter-sweet drinking chocolate in evaporated milk (a pantry staple in Peru), then enriching it with sweetened condensed milk, butter, and warm spices like cinnamon, cloves, and sometimes a hint of vanilla. Some families make it extra indulgent with heavy cream or brandy. The result is thick, rich, and intensely chocolatey.
It’s common for Peruvian families to enjoy paneton and hot chocolate as midnight draws near on Christmas Eve, usually accompanied by a glass or two of champagne for the adults. This combination of sweet bread, spiced chocolate, and sparkling wine creates a perfect ending to the feast, something comforting yet festive as the evening transitions into the early morning hours.
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Celebration of the Midnight Mass
Villancicos Peruanos: Traditional Christmas Carols
In Peru, Christmas carols known as villancicos, hold a special place during the holiday season. They blend Spanish colonial melodies with Andean and Afro-Peruvian rhythms, creating a unique sound that reflects the country’s diverse cultural roots.
One of the most famous groups, Los Toribianitos, a children’s choir from Lima, popularized traditional songs like “Noche de Paz” (Silent Night) and “Campana sobre Campana,” giving them a distinct Peruvian flavor with soft guitar and charango accompaniments.
In the Andes, villagers often sing villancicos in Quechua or Spanish, accompanied by flutes, drums, and panpipes (zampoñas). These songs are cheerful, rhythmic, and sometimes performed door to door as part of pastoreadas (processions reenacting the shepherds’ journey). In coastal regions, carols may adopt criollo or Afro-Peruvian rhythms, with cajón and guitar, giving a lively festive beat to the celebration.
Folkloric dances and performances
Peru’s Christmas season isn’t just about music—it’s also a time for vibrant traditional dances and cultural performances that connect spirituality, community, and joy.
- Huaylía: A traditional dance from the southern Andes (Cusco, Apurímac, Huancavelica, and Ayacucho), performed during Navidad and New Year festivities. It combines lively music, colorful costumes, and poetic verses. The Huaylía of Chumbivilcas (Cusco) was declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Nation in 2016 for its deep cultural significance.
- Takanakuy: Held on December 25 in the province of Chumbivilcas (Cusco), this ritual involves friendly, controlled combat accompanied by huaylía music. It symbolizes reconciliation—people settle disputes from the past year and start the new one in peace and equality.
- The Shepherds’ Dance (Los Pastorcillos): In the Amazon region, especially in Amazonas and Ucayali, children and adults parade through villages dressed as shepherds and angels, singing villancicos while carrying small nativity figures to local churches.
- Afro-Peruvian dances: Along the coast, particularly in Cañete and Chincha, the celebrations include zapateo criollo—an energetic foot-tapping dance accompanied by cajón, guitar, and clapping, expressing both faith and festivity.
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The best places to experience Christmas traditions in Peru
Whether in the snowy Andes, along the warm Pacific coast, or deep in the lush Amazon, each community adds its own music, flavors, and rituals to the festivities. In this section, we’ll explore the best places to experience Christmas traditions in Peru, where faith, art, and joy come together to create an unforgettable holiday spirit.
1. Cusco
Few places embody the Christmas spirit like Cusco during Santurantikuy, one of Peru’s largest and most traditional markets. The event takes place in the Plaza de Armas, where hundreds of artisans from across the Andes gather to sell their handmade crafts.
The highlight of the market is the Niño Manuelito, a baby Jesus figurine revered in Cusqueñan culture and often seen wearing traditional Andean attire. You’ll also find intricately carved wooden nativity sets (nacimientos), retablos from Ayacucho, and miniature Andean animals made of clay.
As night falls, the city glows with thousands of lights, and local musicians fill the air with Andean Christmas carols played on quenas and charangos. Street food vendors sell hot chocolate and choclo con queso (corn with cheese), while families stroll through the plaza enjoying the festive atmosphere.
Unique to Cusco: The fusion of Catholic and Incan symbolism — many locals place small Andean offerings (despachos) beside their nativity scenes to ask for blessings for the coming year.
2. Chumbivilcas, Cusco
On December 25, while most of Peru enjoys a quiet Christmas Day, the province of Chumbivilcas comes alive with one of the country’s most unusual and powerful traditions: Takanakuy, which means “to hit each other” in Quechua.
This ritual brings the entire community together to settle disputes through symbolic combat, ensuring everyone starts the new year free of resentment. The event is accompanied by Huaylía music, dancers in colorful costumes, and a festive spirit that transforms the day into a blend of reconciliation and celebration.
Unique to Chumbivilcas: Participants wear hand-embroidered masks, vibrant ponchos, and traditional boots called wakrapuku. The fights are overseen by community leaders to ensure fairness and respect, followed by communal feasts and dancing.
3. Huánuco
In Huánuco La Danza de los Negritos is one of Peru’s most joyful and historic traditions. Originating during the colonial period, it symbolizes freedom and gratitude, as enslaved Afro-Peruvians were once allowed to celebrate the Christmas traditions in Peru.
Today, groups dressed as “negritos” perform intricate dances in the streets, accompanied by violins, bells, and small drums. Their outfits are richly decorated with sequins, mirrors, and ribbons, creating a dazzling spectacle under the sun.
The celebration lasts from December 24 to early January, culminating in parades, church visits, and community meals that unite people from all backgrounds.
4. Huancavelica and Ayacucho
High in the Andes, the regions of Huancavelica and Ayacucho celebrate with deep devotion and artistic flair. Here, the holiday season is marked by Huaylía dances, performed in town squares and church courtyards to the rhythm of violins and harps.
In Ayacucho, known as the “City of Churches,” every street and chapel glows with candles and nativity displays. Local artisans craft retablos, portable altarpieces depicting the birth of Jesus surrounded by Andean shepherds, llamas, and condors.
Christmas Eve processions feature costumed dancers carrying baby Jesus figures through narrow colonial streets, accompanied by fireworks and the scent of ponche ayacuchano, a local warm drink made from milk, cinnamon, and pisco.
5. Amazonas
In Peru’s Amazon region, takes on a vibrant and community-focused character. The Pastoreadas Navideñas (Christmas Shepherd Parades) are at the heart of the celebrations. Communities reenact the Nativity story with a tropical twist — palm leaves replace pine trees, and traditional drums and flutes set the festive rhythm.
Children dress as angels and shepherds, singing villancicos while leading processions that wind through towns and villages. Afterward, everyone gathers for a shared meal of local dishes such as juanes (rice and chicken wrapped in banana leaves) and masato, a fermented yucca drink.
In many towns, the arrival of baby Jesus is dramatized with live performances and fireworks reflected in the river, creating a breathtaking scene of light and music deep in the rainforest.
6. Lima and the peruvian coast
On the coast, particularly in Lima, Cañete, and Chincha, Christmas blends Catholic tradition with Afro-Peruvian and Criollo influences. Families decorate their homes with coastal-style nativity scenes featuring seashells and marine elements, while churches host concerts filled with guitars, cajones, and lively zapateo footwork.
On Christmas Eve, many attend Misa de Gallo (Midnight Mass) before gathering for dinner, usually a feast of roast turkey, panetón, and hot chocolate. In Afro-Peruvian communities, the night often continues with music and dance until dawn, celebrating the birth of Jesus with the same energy as a festival.
