10 interesting facts about Holy Week in Peru

Holy Week has already begun and the faithful are preparing not only to enjoy the holidays, but also to carry out religious traditions that help them connect with their faith and reflect on their lives.

Although this religious celebration takes place in several countries around the world, not everyone celebrates it in the same way, since there are always peculiarities specific to each country and even each region.

If you want to know 10 interesting facts about Holy Week in Peru, continue reading the following article.

1.BLESSED PALMS

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, as it recalls Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. In our country, it is common for believers to hold palms to wave them high in the church as representing the entrance of Jesus and the priest throws holy water at them. These palms are then taken to the homes and sometimes hung on the doors or in a visible place as a symbol of faith and protection for the whole family.

2. TOUR OF THE SEVEN CHURCHES

This is probably the most popular custom in Peru during Holy Week. It consists of visiting seven churches in the city to pray in silence, make requests to God and thank Him. The tour usually ends at the church of San Pedro located in the historic center of Lima. This church was built in the 16th century by the Jesuits and is considered one of the most beautiful in the capital.

3. THE SERMON ON THE SEVEN WORDS

The tradition of listening to the sermon of the seven words was born in 1937 and was carried out through a radio broadcast. Then, in the 70s it began to be broadcast on national television from the Cathedral of Lima. This sermon tells the experiences and the last words that Jesus said before he was crucified.

4. THE WAY OF THE CROSS

It is customary that in different cities of the country there is a representation of the way of the cross and a tour of the fifteen stations that Jesus had to go through before being nailed to the cross. It is done in the form of a staging in which each person dresses characterizing one of the historical figures while recounting what happened. This moment is used by believers to follow the journey and pray.

5.CONFESS ON HOLY WEDNESDAY OR THURSDAY

While this is a tradition that has lost its strength over the years, Wednesday afternoons and holy Thursdays were considered days when the faithful had to go to church to confess their sins and thus arrive 'clean' on Good Friday and then on Resurrection Sunday.

6.EAT FISH INSTEAD OF MEAT

In several cities in Peru, the usual thing during these days is not to eat rojar meats during Holy Week, especially on Good Friday. This is because according to the Holy Scriptures, the faithful do not eat red meat this day, because they represent the body of Jesus crucified, so they are replaced by fish or stews.

7. JESUS' ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM

Just as the Way of the Cross is represented in different cities, it is also traditional to stage on Palm Sunday the entrance of Jesus to Jerusalem. For this, believers make a staging in which one represents Christ entering the city on a donkey while others receive him. Arequipa and Trujillo are some of the cities that stand out for their representation of this biblical moment.

8. GASTRONOMY AT THIS TIME

If there is one thing that stands out about our country, in addition to the famous religious celebrations that take place at this time, it is the strong gastronomic tradition that is linked to Holy Week in Peru. Almost every region of the country has one or more dishes that are consumed with special interest during this week. For example, in Ayacucho, the Ayacuchano Chorizo and the Friday soup stand out, while in the Trujillo and Lambayeque area, the Theological Soup takes the leading role of the date.

9. EASTER EGGS

Although the tradition of easter eggs is not Peruvian, it began to become popular in the country around the sixties when chocolate eggs wrapped in colored platens with a gift began to be sold inside bakeries and supermarkets. Although it is not known exactly how this tradition began, one of the theories is that the egg represents the beginning of life, so it symbolizes the resurrection of Jesus. That is why it is called Easter.

10. THE EASTER BUNNY

Like easter eggs, this tradition is not Peruvian, but its popularity has grown, over the years, especially among the little ones. This does not respond to Christianity, but to the Anglo-Saxon tradition that German and Dutch immigrants started in the United States, since the month of April was associated with Ostern (Easter in English) who was the goddess of fertility and was represented by the rabbit.

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