Fiesta de la Candelaria (Puno)
Encyclopedia
The Fiesta de la Candelaria is a festival in honor of the Virgin of Candelaria
, patron saint of the city of Puno
in Peru, held in the first fortnight of February each year. It is one of the largest festivals of culture, music and dancing in Peru
. In terms of the number of events related to the cultures of the Quechua and Aymara peoples and of the mestizo
s of the Altiplano
, and also in terms of the number of people directly and indirectly involved in its realization, it stands with the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro
and the Carnaval de Oruro
in Bolivia
as one of the three largest festivals in South America
.
At the core of the festival are performances of music and dance organized by the Regional Federation of Folklore and Culture of Puno, consisting of more than 200 dances in more than 150 dance sets. These include "native dances" from the various communities in Puno and sets of dances organized in different quarters of the city, mostly those known as "costume dances". These performances directly involve 40,000 thousand dancers and some 5,000 musicians, and indirectly involve about 25,000 people including directors, sponsors, embroiderers and the makers of masks, boots, shoes, bells and other items.
Virgin of Candelaria
The cult of the Virgin of Candelaria or Our Lady of Candelaria , popularly called La Morenita, celebrates an apparition of the Virgin Mary on the island of Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands . The center of worship is located in the city of Candelaria in Tenerife. She is depicted as a Black Madonna...
, patron saint of the city of Puno
Puno
Puno is a city in southeastern Peru, located on the shore of Lake Titicaca. It is the capital city of the Puno Region and the Puno Province with a population of approximately 100,000. The city was established in 1668 by viceroy Pedro Antonio Fernández de Castro as capital of the province of...
in Peru, held in the first fortnight of February each year. It is one of the largest festivals of culture, music and dancing in Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
. In terms of the number of events related to the cultures of the Quechua and Aymara peoples and of the mestizo
Mestizo
Mestizo is a term traditionally used in Latin America, Philippines and Spain for people of mixed European and Native American heritage or descent...
s of the Altiplano
Altiplano
The Altiplano , in west-central South America, where the Andes are at their widest, is the most extensive area of high plateau on Earth outside of Tibet...
, and also in terms of the number of people directly and indirectly involved in its realization, it stands with the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro
Rio Carnival
The Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is a world famous festival held before Lent every year and considered the biggest carnival in the world with two million people per day on the streets. The first festivals of Rio date back to 1723.-Samba schools:...
and the Carnaval de Oruro
Carnaval de Oruro
The Carnival of Oruro is a more than 2000 year old religious celebration that, through creativity, continuity, and ritual, came to constitute a model of "Masterpieces of Oral Heritage and Intangible Heritage of Humanity...
in Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
as one of the three largest festivals in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
.
At the core of the festival are performances of music and dance organized by the Regional Federation of Folklore and Culture of Puno, consisting of more than 200 dances in more than 150 dance sets. These include "native dances" from the various communities in Puno and sets of dances organized in different quarters of the city, mostly those known as "costume dances". These performances directly involve 40,000 thousand dancers and some 5,000 musicians, and indirectly involve about 25,000 people including directors, sponsors, embroiderers and the makers of masks, boots, shoes, bells and other items.