June 22 - Corpus Cristi celebration

This celebration consists of a parade of the 10 most important saints in Cusco being taken from their respective churches on platforms carried by bearers. They are taken up to the Santa Clara church then down to the Palaza de Armas where they are brought together in the Cathedral to spend the night. The next day, the 23 of June, they are paraded around the Plaza de Armas together with their bearers, adherants and notables, as well as dancers, and are returned to the Cathedral where they spend 8 days before returning to their respective churches.
During the 8 days together, they discuss how the past year went and how the new year looks for the Cusco area. This is an obvious example of the fusion of the Inca and the Catholic beliefs and traditions since the Incas kept mummies of their past leaders in the homes they occupied when alive and paraded them about on certain days. These mummies were brought together on certain days and consulted on what the coming year looked like.

These next two days, 22 and 23 of June, were much more colorful than the Civic parade day. It certainly seems, though, that by the end of the week, everyone in the city had danced around the Plaza.

Look at the silver on this costume.

This is one of the typical¨"floats" carried aloft by sturdy bearers.

The casique (leader) was at the head of one group of saints (or santa) carriers.

David, on the road to recovery from Atahualpa´s revenge, is pictured here with Atahualpa, asking forgiveness.

Was it  this or Atahualpa that almost put our photographer under?¿?

Watch your step on the sidewalks. Sometimes it appears as if Peru, as a country, is a total Osha violation.

Local leaders.

The street urchins again trying to move the float stand forward.