Culture

More than 50% of the Peruvian population lives along the coast. The rest are spread over the Andes Mountains and about 5% are still living in the rain forests of Eastern Peru. 45% of the population of Peru is indigenous while others are settlers of Asian, African descent.

Folk art, with its diverse colors and creativity is a fundamental activity of the Peruvians and is a way of life for them. Peruvian art is influenced by centuries of history and is filled with pre-Hispanic shapes and symbols. Spaniard art and craft have also had an influence on it.

Music has been an integral part of the culture as far back as 10,000 years ago. Various instruments that have been discovered prove that music has been a part of festivities for long. Quenas, zampoñas and pututos are some of the ancient instruments.

There are some 3000 festivals that are celebrated in a year. Most of them are homage to a patron saint. These festivals are celebrated along with pagan celebrations.

A. Music

Peru is a land of diverse climate, cuisine and has its peculiar customs and traditions. This diversity is also seen in Peruvian music. Andean, Andalusian, Spanish and African customs have all influenced its diverse culture. Though quite traditional, modern Peruvian music and music influenced by Amazon are quite popular in Peru.

Quena, the Andean flute, Zampoña and the mestizo Charango, a tiny guitar with a unique sound are the traditional instruments of Peru that are popular and are still used in various musical creations. A Creole version of the Spanish guitar and the famous Peruvian instrument that is the Cajon drum are basic instruments used in playing coastal music. It is found to be popular and has a large following in cities such as Lima, Trujillo and Chiclayo.

The Spanish orquestal and European Church musicals have been originally derived from traditional Andean Peruvian music. Huayno, a mestizo happy chant is popular in the southern Andean region. Its composition incorporates the use of Charango guitar, lamenting vocals that are beautifully toned and at times the Andean Harp. The Huayno Ayacuchano is the most popular of its styles and can be played on both Creole and Spanish guitar, which adds to its heartrending and soulful articulation.

Other Andean rhythms that are popular include a fusion of European Church music and Huaynos. "El Cóndor Pasa", is a traditional Peruvian song, which has been made popular by Simon & Garfunke in the United States.

Arequipa city has contributed the famous Yaraví, a despondent style that is sung A Capella and makes use of Spanish or Creole guitar. The Huaylas, which is a popular musical style from the central Andes region, in contrast, has a merry style of performance.

Musica Criolla is the coastal Peruvian music that is a fusion of traditional Spanish, Gypsy and African influence. Peruvian Waltz, famous all over the world, is a derivation from this style. This rhythm includes a singer, a chorus, a Creole Guitar, a Peruvian Cajón and spoon players who play in sync to generate divine music.

This musical tradition has been handed down through the ages and is a legacy of mores and cultures of several places.

B. Language

Spanish and Quechua are the official languages in Peru. Spanish is spoken all over in most cities and towns in Spain. Quechua is restricted to a few regions in the Andes. Aymara is yet another language that is spoken in the highland plains of Altiplano, although it is not considered to be an official language.

C. Religious Practices

The Principal religion in Peru is Roman Catholicism like many of the other Latin American countries. Christianity is the official state religion and it has influenced affairs of the state as well as daily administration for the past 400 years. Lima, which is the state capital, hosts most of the activities of the church and clergy.

The official functions of the state are often coordinated with a religious function that has to be performed by the church. For instance, the investiture ceremony of the president is initiated with high mass in the cathedral. This is followed by Holy Week events and festivity of major Peruvian saints' days and festivals, like that of Santa Rosa de Lima.

Traditionally, policies of the church have been conservative and they have been found to be high handed in the affairs of native Quechua and Aymara people. Later on in the fifties, the policies were changed and the clergy extended a helping hand to the poor.

Incaic traditions and thinking are still predominantly seen in people who continue to hold onto their strong native cultures. Animistic concepts about spirits and forces are still strong in the native inhabitants of the land. Sun and Earth veneration was quite common among the Incas and other Andean people. Syncretism was widely propagated for converting the masses to Christianity. Christian Saints hereby replaced the local deities and churches were raised on existing temple locations.

Church still exerts its influence over local events and affairs though their exclusive control has eroded over a period of time. The Peruvian culture is deeply embedded with rituals, moral principles and values of the Catholic religion.

D. Major Events

The Roman Catholic liturgical calendar is typically followed for the main festivals. The Catholic feast day is linked with traditional agricultural festival and is celebrated with lot of pomp and show.

Carnaval is celebrated in February-March and is popular in the highlands and involves numerous water fights that are an attraction for the tourists.

Inti Raymi, celebrated on the 24 June is a prominent Inca festival and features impressive dances and parades and attracts lot of visitors especially historians who are studying the Inca traditions.

All Souls Day is celebrated on 2 November with gifts of food, drink and flowers that are eventually taken to family graves for the appeasement of the departed souls.

Puno Day held on 5 November, features flamboyant costumes and street dancing in Puno and is also a major event in the calendar that attracts visitors.

E. Ettiquette / Do's and Don'ts

- Peruvians are formal in social relations and shake hands quite often.

- Though kissing an acquaintance on the cheek is acceptable, they are quite conservative with strangers.

- It is considered rude to use a finger to summon a person.

- Oral greetings are exchanged when meeting or departing.