Religious Syncretism

 

Perhaps the most prominent reoccurring theme throughout our trip through Peru was the presence of religious syncretism in every day, daily life. From the Cusco Cathedral in the Plaza de Armas to the paintings it contains from the Cusco School (such as the Ultima Cena painting, which totally depicts Jesus and his twelve disciples consuming Cuy), the country is packed with elements that blend together the Spanish, Catholic traditions with that of Indigenous Andean cultures. 

Nowhere stronger was this seen, in my opinion, than in the city of Pisac. In Pisac, our group attended a Catholic mass in Quechua, the Indigenous language of the Inca Empire. Being Catholic myself, I followed along reasonably well, proving the universality that Catholicism attempts to create. Along with the Indigenous language, many of the churchgoers, particularly those who were part of the, much to our surprise, wedding service that was going on that Sunday, was dressed in the vibrant colors of traditional Indigenous clothing. 

Another mode of religious syncretism that our group experienced in Pisac was through a religious procession throughout the town that occurred later that night. A group of churchgoers moved an icon of a saint from one church to another, banging drums and playing other instruments typical to Indigenous Peruvians throughout the town. At the second church, the group stopped and danced for quite a long time, sharing drinks and food and an overall vibe of exuberance and camaraderie. Overall, experiencing this religious syncretism was a highlight of the trip!