Culture
Written by Jennifer
![Picture](/uploads/5/2/1/5/52151581/9167183.jpg?1431307435)
The culture of Lima, Peru is built off of the many civilizations before it still engraved into the structures on the streets of Peru. The era of the conquistadors is shown through cobblestone streets and the remains of the city Machu Picchu is represented in the Inca Empire. The spectacular mountain in the Peruvian Andes is home to highland Indians that speak the ancient language Quechua and live by following the Inca traditions of life. In Lima, Peru, an area known as the Peruvian Coast has 84% of the population speaking Spanish, as it is also the main language used in government, the media, and through education. In Peru there are little differences in language as you travel across different regions. Quechua is a widely spoken native language and the second most common language in Peru. Approximately 13% of the population in the highlands of Peru speaks Quechua which comes from the Inca Empire as it existed throughout the area. Aymara is the third most spoken language in Peru, but only about 1.7% of the people are Aymara-speakers. The Aymara-speakers are found mainly in the south of Peru, especially in Bolivia.
There are many religions in Peru, such as Christianity, which was inherited of a Spanish Conquest. The Catholic religions were brought by the Spanish as they came to Peru in the early 1530s and now many protestant churches and cathedrals can found throughout Peru. The official religion of Peru is Roman Catholicism along with many other Christian faiths. The Peruvian Religion as of 2003 is 81% Roman Catholicism, 1% Seventh- Day Adventist, 1% other Christian, and the rest 17% unspecified. Roman Catholicism plays an important role of society and culture in Peru as most of the population follows its beliefs. Before the Spanish conquered the Inca Empire, the Inca religion was polytheistic, which meant that the Incas worshiped many gods and they believed that there was a god for every aspect of Earth. Although the Incas believed in many gods, they believed that their creator was Viracocha, who was also worshiped by Peruvians before Inca times. Everything the Incas believed in had to do with the creations of Viracocha because they accepted that Viracocha was the creator of Earth. The Inca religion had many other layers of worship and beliefs provided by the creator. The layers of beliefs were known as the secondary tier of their religion, or the astral level. The layer of the Inca religion required worshipping gods with the aspects of the Earth, such as the moon, sun, and stars. Although the aspects of the Earth was meant for man, it fit perfectly into the environment around them that resembled shrines with rocks, mountain peaks, caves, and springs that offered a place to worship for the Incas.
The coming together of many customs and experiences has established 3,000 annual festivals in Peru. The Peruvian festivals are a result of a mix in Catholicism and pre-Hispanic religious traditions. Many of the festivals include feasts, parades, carnivals, rituals that show the belief in god, respect for nature, and the importance of freedom. A majority of the festivals are to repay the Earth and reward Pachamama, the Mother Earth, for her kindness. Pachamama was a dragoness fertility goddess who ruled over planting and harvesting and the earth itself was seen as the dragon goddess who lived beneath the mountains. People believed that when she quivered occasionally, it would send earthquakes throughout the world. For this, Pachamama, the goddess of the earth over the Andean mountains would be offered coca leaves and praised on agricultural occasions to ensure a sufficient supply of food. The Earth goddess lives in Urkhapacha, the Underworld, and provides her fruits to feed mankind. In the return of the nature, in August, villagers make offerings in a festival called pagapus. The offerings include unwrought silver, chichi, wine, and jungle seeds known as huayruro, which are believed to have magical powers. These offerings are made to the apu, or the spirits of their ancestors who live in the mountains. The coca leaf was one of the most important parts of the offering as it settles the inner world of the Apu and Pachamama and the outer world of mankind. Also included in the festival are Peruvian dances such as Marinera, Huayno, and Vals Criollo. Along with dances are instruments like the guitar, zampoña, and quijada. Also folk art takes place in pottery, imagery, and silverwork and Peruvian gastronomy such as corn, potato, and pisco. Other than just attending the festivals, one of Peru’s many natural pastimes and hobbies is entering the Guinness Book of World Records and enjoying sports. The two main and popular sports throughout Peru are soccer and volleyball. Other popular activities that are done throughout Lima are fishing and bull fighting.
Peruvian handicraft artisans have developed technical skills over the years. Pre-Hispanic Peruvian art went way back to the times of the discovery of weaving, gourds, wood, stone, gold, silver, pottery, and mud. The ancient heritage is still seen today in the art of Peruvians in the coastal mountains and jungle regions. Pieces of art are valued all throughout the world of silver filigree, carved gourds, Ayacuchano altars, Huamanga stone and wood carvings, Chulucanas pottery, and Monsefú ponchos. One example would be retablos which are tiny human figurines, animals from the highlands, images of Christian saints, or pre-Columbian gods. This art form brought over from Spain goes back to the dawn of Western civilization. In Europe this art form was known as front pieces because they were friezes shown in church altars in the 13th and 15th centuries. For example the altar known as Caja de Santo, located in Spain was as a part of Catholic rituals. The Ayacucho artisans in Peru saw the altars and it was perfect to bring two religions together, their own and Catholicism. Today, styles and themes have changed where Cuzco emerges as a retablo production center. Another example are mates burilados which are Pre-Inca handcrafts that were made with empty squash shells used to carry foods or drinks. Later the Spanish artisans developed into carving figurines instead of the geometrical figures the earlier generation carved. The images the Spanish carved were taken from real life situations. Most of the colonial architecture in Lima has been damaged by earthquakes, such as the Convent of San Francisco, a work of art from the Old World and different cultures throughout the years.
Lima has a reputation for traditional Peruvian food, which is the home to world-known food restaurants. Some of those traditions in the Peruvian foods are large plates that are filled with lots of meat and potatoes, huge bowls of soup, and seafood dishes from the coastal areas of Lima. Into Peruvian drinks, the first that is well-known is the Pisco, the national drink of Peru. The Pisco Sour is a traditional cocktail that is used to welcome guests and start a Peruvian meal. Other drinks famous in Peruvian culture are red wines and beers. Other people who are non-alcoholics drink Chicha Morada, the Peruvian Limonada, or Peru’s soft drinks. One of the most famous Peruvian desserts is Picarones that looks like a thin donut without perfectly round edges usually served with syrup on top. Also another very famous Peruvian dessert is lucuma that is a nut flavored orange colored fruit. Peru is the only place that produces lucuma fruit in large numbers that is commonly found in ice cream flavors.
The music in Peru is a mix of sounds and styles coming from Peru’s Andeans, Spanish, and African cultures. For hundreds of years of blending of cultures, music has been created all over the people of Peru. Common instruments that are used are the flute and the antara or zampona, the box and the cultural guitar with a smaller alternative known as the charango or mandolin. The charango is a ten string lute that came from South America fashioned from an armadillo. There are many famous pre-Hispanic dances in huayno parades. The huayno is a folk dance in the land of the Andes, which combines pre-Colombian origins with influences on the way by people form Europe. The dance is performed by a couple who perform with turning and movements including hops and tap dancing to different rhythms. The variety of the music and dances come from different cultures blending together in the mountains. Many of the Andean influence on music comes from wind instruments and the variety of music melodies. African influences can be heard in the rhythm and percussion instruments. While the European influences comes from the harmonies and stringed instruments. The term used in Inca music, dances, and songs was taki used in most community rituals and events.
There are many religions in Peru, such as Christianity, which was inherited of a Spanish Conquest. The Catholic religions were brought by the Spanish as they came to Peru in the early 1530s and now many protestant churches and cathedrals can found throughout Peru. The official religion of Peru is Roman Catholicism along with many other Christian faiths. The Peruvian Religion as of 2003 is 81% Roman Catholicism, 1% Seventh- Day Adventist, 1% other Christian, and the rest 17% unspecified. Roman Catholicism plays an important role of society and culture in Peru as most of the population follows its beliefs. Before the Spanish conquered the Inca Empire, the Inca religion was polytheistic, which meant that the Incas worshiped many gods and they believed that there was a god for every aspect of Earth. Although the Incas believed in many gods, they believed that their creator was Viracocha, who was also worshiped by Peruvians before Inca times. Everything the Incas believed in had to do with the creations of Viracocha because they accepted that Viracocha was the creator of Earth. The Inca religion had many other layers of worship and beliefs provided by the creator. The layers of beliefs were known as the secondary tier of their religion, or the astral level. The layer of the Inca religion required worshipping gods with the aspects of the Earth, such as the moon, sun, and stars. Although the aspects of the Earth was meant for man, it fit perfectly into the environment around them that resembled shrines with rocks, mountain peaks, caves, and springs that offered a place to worship for the Incas.
The coming together of many customs and experiences has established 3,000 annual festivals in Peru. The Peruvian festivals are a result of a mix in Catholicism and pre-Hispanic religious traditions. Many of the festivals include feasts, parades, carnivals, rituals that show the belief in god, respect for nature, and the importance of freedom. A majority of the festivals are to repay the Earth and reward Pachamama, the Mother Earth, for her kindness. Pachamama was a dragoness fertility goddess who ruled over planting and harvesting and the earth itself was seen as the dragon goddess who lived beneath the mountains. People believed that when she quivered occasionally, it would send earthquakes throughout the world. For this, Pachamama, the goddess of the earth over the Andean mountains would be offered coca leaves and praised on agricultural occasions to ensure a sufficient supply of food. The Earth goddess lives in Urkhapacha, the Underworld, and provides her fruits to feed mankind. In the return of the nature, in August, villagers make offerings in a festival called pagapus. The offerings include unwrought silver, chichi, wine, and jungle seeds known as huayruro, which are believed to have magical powers. These offerings are made to the apu, or the spirits of their ancestors who live in the mountains. The coca leaf was one of the most important parts of the offering as it settles the inner world of the Apu and Pachamama and the outer world of mankind. Also included in the festival are Peruvian dances such as Marinera, Huayno, and Vals Criollo. Along with dances are instruments like the guitar, zampoña, and quijada. Also folk art takes place in pottery, imagery, and silverwork and Peruvian gastronomy such as corn, potato, and pisco. Other than just attending the festivals, one of Peru’s many natural pastimes and hobbies is entering the Guinness Book of World Records and enjoying sports. The two main and popular sports throughout Peru are soccer and volleyball. Other popular activities that are done throughout Lima are fishing and bull fighting.
Peruvian handicraft artisans have developed technical skills over the years. Pre-Hispanic Peruvian art went way back to the times of the discovery of weaving, gourds, wood, stone, gold, silver, pottery, and mud. The ancient heritage is still seen today in the art of Peruvians in the coastal mountains and jungle regions. Pieces of art are valued all throughout the world of silver filigree, carved gourds, Ayacuchano altars, Huamanga stone and wood carvings, Chulucanas pottery, and Monsefú ponchos. One example would be retablos which are tiny human figurines, animals from the highlands, images of Christian saints, or pre-Columbian gods. This art form brought over from Spain goes back to the dawn of Western civilization. In Europe this art form was known as front pieces because they were friezes shown in church altars in the 13th and 15th centuries. For example the altar known as Caja de Santo, located in Spain was as a part of Catholic rituals. The Ayacucho artisans in Peru saw the altars and it was perfect to bring two religions together, their own and Catholicism. Today, styles and themes have changed where Cuzco emerges as a retablo production center. Another example are mates burilados which are Pre-Inca handcrafts that were made with empty squash shells used to carry foods or drinks. Later the Spanish artisans developed into carving figurines instead of the geometrical figures the earlier generation carved. The images the Spanish carved were taken from real life situations. Most of the colonial architecture in Lima has been damaged by earthquakes, such as the Convent of San Francisco, a work of art from the Old World and different cultures throughout the years.
Lima has a reputation for traditional Peruvian food, which is the home to world-known food restaurants. Some of those traditions in the Peruvian foods are large plates that are filled with lots of meat and potatoes, huge bowls of soup, and seafood dishes from the coastal areas of Lima. Into Peruvian drinks, the first that is well-known is the Pisco, the national drink of Peru. The Pisco Sour is a traditional cocktail that is used to welcome guests and start a Peruvian meal. Other drinks famous in Peruvian culture are red wines and beers. Other people who are non-alcoholics drink Chicha Morada, the Peruvian Limonada, or Peru’s soft drinks. One of the most famous Peruvian desserts is Picarones that looks like a thin donut without perfectly round edges usually served with syrup on top. Also another very famous Peruvian dessert is lucuma that is a nut flavored orange colored fruit. Peru is the only place that produces lucuma fruit in large numbers that is commonly found in ice cream flavors.
The music in Peru is a mix of sounds and styles coming from Peru’s Andeans, Spanish, and African cultures. For hundreds of years of blending of cultures, music has been created all over the people of Peru. Common instruments that are used are the flute and the antara or zampona, the box and the cultural guitar with a smaller alternative known as the charango or mandolin. The charango is a ten string lute that came from South America fashioned from an armadillo. There are many famous pre-Hispanic dances in huayno parades. The huayno is a folk dance in the land of the Andes, which combines pre-Colombian origins with influences on the way by people form Europe. The dance is performed by a couple who perform with turning and movements including hops and tap dancing to different rhythms. The variety of the music and dances come from different cultures blending together in the mountains. Many of the Andean influence on music comes from wind instruments and the variety of music melodies. African influences can be heard in the rhythm and percussion instruments. While the European influences comes from the harmonies and stringed instruments. The term used in Inca music, dances, and songs was taki used in most community rituals and events.