1. Inti Raymi Celebration of the Sun

2. Why?  In the city of Cuzco the indigenous Incan population celebrates Inti Raymi in honor of the sun god, Inti.  They say that celebrating the winter solstice and praising the sun god it will bring him back and warm them again.  The Catholics of course didn’t like the pagan ritual so they turned it into a celebration of John the Baptist.

3. Who?  The General population of Peru  Over 200,000 people will come to the main ceremony.  The indigenous still celebrate it for its main purpose but the catholic church celebrates it in honor of John the Baptist

4. What?  There are tons of thing to do for tourist at the ancient reenactment of the Incan ritual.  Every year there is a high priest carried in on a gold chair during the celebration in Sacsayhuaman, Cuzco.  Girls and guys are expected to dress in there fanciest bright colored clothes.

5. When?  The celebration starts on June 21. The shortest day of the year.  Festivals will erupt all over the Andes, the biggest one being in Cuzco.  They set the starting day on the southern hemispheres winter solstice.

6. Where?  All over Peru and the Andes.  Biggest celebration again being in cuzco.  Cuzco is the ancient Incan Empires capitol city.  People travel from all over the world to experience Inti Raymi.

7. http://www.lostworldadventures.com/specialinterest/specialevents/p eruspecialevents.htm http://www.sacred-texts.com/nam/inca/inca03.htm http://www.crystalinks.com/incan.html http://incas.mrdonn.org/religion.html http://absolutelatinamerica.com/inti-raymi-the-festival-of-the-sun- peru/ http://viajesmonllar.com/blog/inti-raymi-la-fiesta-del-sol-en-peru http://www.incatrail-peru.com/inka-trail/de/cusco-highlights/cusco- festivals/inti-raymi.php http://www.peruhotel.com/english/article.php3?idarticle=30