The days before Christmas in Cusco are filled with equal parts excitement, holiday cheer...and crafts projects! Santuranticuy Cusco Christmas Market, one of the largest arts and crafts fairs in Peru, is a temporary Christmas market that takes place every year in the Plaza de Armas. Local Festivals in Peru: Santuranticuy Cusco Christmas Market In years prior the event was only held on December 24, but this year the fair will be held on December 23 as well. The market attracts artists from the neighborhood of San Blas in Cusco with those from the South of Peru, particularly Pucará and Quinua.  View Aracari's free Festival Calendar. The name "Santuranticuy" translates to "saints for sale," which is fitting given that its primary function is for sculptors and craftsmen sell diverse figurines to brighten holiday displays. By tradition, the people of Cusco make their own nativity scenes for their homes and parishes. Santuranticuy Christmas Market serves as the crafts store for these annual DIY projects. Cusqueños come to buy the raw materials, from moss for the grass to figurines of the most popular characters in the nativity scene. The most renowned and popular figurines are the various “Niños Manuelitos,” the Andean version of baby Jesus. The event has risen to more prominence since its humble origins. In 1937, the American Institute of Arts even began selecting the best displays and giving out awards to promote the sale of the show. Santuranticuy is a spectacle for shoppers and visitors alike. There are a number of non-crafts items available for sale, including a traditional Andean handicraft known as retablos, or carved wooden boxes featuring a religious or historical scene. The Andean rainy season is not quite as chilly as a snowy white Christmas, but vendors still sell delightful Christmas sweets and  traditional hot, sweet rum punch, the Peruvian answer to hot chocolate with marshmallows.  And,

Corpus Christi Festival in Cusco  The Corpus Christi Festival is Cusco's most important religious procession. The oldest religious festival in the Americas, it is a majestic display of vibrant costumes and passionate ritual. Read more about Peru's most important festival and events. The religious significance of the festival During this colorful and lively celebration, “Cuzequeñans” of all social and economic groups and classes flood the streets, carrying flowers and other offerings in their hands.  Central to the celebration are the 15 adorned statues representing saints and religious figures perched atop litters for all to see. Members of each parish, from which the life-size figures are sourced, spend a full year planning the procession and raising funds for the sumptuous attire that embellishes each statue. The processions begin at the home Parish church, and with bands, dancers and other faithful members at their side, each litter proceeds to the Main Square, where a statue of Christ awaits and joins them to become a unified, glorious celebration. The religious statues remain in the Main Cathedral overnight, and the following day, the paramount celebration begins, with six hours of joyous dancing, music, and feasting perfectly complementing the religious festivities.  Though the event is predominantly religious, fancy garb, choreographed dances, and troupes of musicians create a truly cultural experience. Read our top tips for enjoying Corpus Christi Festival Celebrating with food And no Peruvian festival is complete without food.  In the evening, everyone enjoys a traditional meal known as Chiriuchu.  Much how the festival brings together several of the nearby parishes and thousands of people from all over, the signature dish combines elements from different nearby regions. With corn as a base, a variety of meats including chicken, a type of jerky, sausage, and guinea pig are blended with cheese, a type of omelette, seaweed and