The God Inti at Christmas

The Quechua people deeply respect their heritage, upholding the traditional values passed down from their ancestors. Despite embracing Catholicism, they continue to venerate the ancient deities of their culture. This blend of beliefs is particularly prominent during Christmas when they celebrate the birth of Christ while also conducting rituals in honor of their ancestral gods. Adorned in traditional garments, they show reverence to Inti, the sun god, revered in the Inca pantheon as the supreme deity, comparable to the Christian God. I observed these participants carrying the effigy of Inti to the main square of Cusco, adjacent to the cathedral, where they partook in singing, dancing, and playing instruments to bless the holiday season, culminating with the serving of refreshments.