Religion in Peru

According to the 1993 Census, 89% of the Peruvian population over 12 years old declared themselves as Catholics, 6.7% as Evangelicals, 2.6% as of other denominations, 1.4% as non-religious and 0.2% did not specify any affiliation. [Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática, "Perfil sociodemográfico del Perú". http://www.inei.gob.pe/biblioineipub/bancopub/Est/Lib0007/ANX-PER/PERU-02.htm.]

Catholic Church in Peru

Most Peruvians are Catholics, although only two-thirds participate in the liturgy and services. The main authorities of this church are in Lima, Arequipa, Trujillo and Cusco. The most important celebration is in honour of the Lord of Miracles. There are also October festivities in Lima.

Popular celebrations

Popular celebrations are the product of every towns' traditions and legends. These celebrations gather music, dances, meals and typical drinks. In addition to the religious celebrations like Christmas, Corpus Christi or Holy Week, there are others that express the syncretism of the indigenous peoples' beliefs with Christianity. For example, there is the Alasitas (an Aymara word that, according to some studious people, would mean «buy me») that combines crafts and miniatures fair with dances, meals and a mass. Another example is the peregrination of the Qoyllur Rit'i (Cuzco), that gathers the ancient cult to the apus (tutelary divinities of the mountains) with a peregrination to a Christian Sanctuary in a long trek to the top of a mountain, of more than 5000m above sea level, that is covered with snow. More than 6,000 people make this trek every year, although not all of them come back

Other Religions

The first mosque in Peru was constructed in Tacna.

Notes

[http://www.naksibendiperu.com Musulmanes peruanos. Sufismo en Perú]