Holy Week began this last Monday in the City of the Incas. Holy Monday began with the procession of the Lord of the Temblors. The main stage where this took place was the Main Square of the city and nearby streets and plazas. Almost all the people who live in the City went to the Plaza de Armas to accompany the Lord in his long procession and for the farewell, where they received his blessing.
It was a dramatic act, the multitude of people in the presence of their Lord of Temblors.
Now this Holy Friday people will consume the delicious twelve dishes of Holy Week. They are six main dishes and six desserts. The desserts include rice pudding, purple pudding (mazamorra morada), empanadas of Holy Week, stewed peaches, sambito rice, and condesas.
Many people have the tradition of fasting this Friday in honor of their patron. Some also climb up to Saqsayhuaman or other places where there are fixed crosses to be whipped and thereby pay for their sins.
They sweeten their Good Friday lunch with the many flavors of desserts. A little bit of each will be eaten and people will spend their whole day in their families in relfection.
Our city’s markets are dressed in colors. You will see the multiple colors of cookies and pastries: condesas, maicillos, pan torta, and more. The caseras, vendors, bring out all these delights and will offer them from early to late in the City’s center.
