Peru Holidays - 2002

New Year's Day is observed on January 1, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar also used in ancient Rome. In countries using the Gregorian calendar as their main calendar, it is a public holiday, often celebrated with fireworks at the stroke of midnight as the new year starts.

Maundy Thursday, also called Holy Thursday. Maundy Thursday is a Christian feast that is celebrated on the Thursday before Easter. This day celebrates the final meal of Jesus Christ with his apostles in the Cenacle, just before his Passion. It is celebrated after Holy Wednesday and before Good Friday.

Good Friday, also known as Holy Friday, Black Friday, Great Friday, commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary.In Peru, Good Friday is official holidays, so now a days Peruvians usually take this long weekend not only for religious observance, but also as an opportunity for domestic tourism, or for just relaxing and winding down.

Labour Day or Labor Day is an annual holiday to celebrate the economic and social achievements of workers.

The Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul is one of the oldest festivals observed by Christians.St. Peter was a patron of the fisherman, and St. Paul was known for his hand craft. Both were martyred on the same day leading to the celebration of these two individuals on the same day. They are celebrated on June 29 with Christians all over the world celebrating this day as the Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul.Special masses in the churches may be held to commemorate the martyrdom of the two saints. Coastal and island communities may decorate their boats and wharfs to give praise to St. Peter, the patron saint of fishermen.

The Independence Day of Peru celebrated on 28, July each year,to commemorate the anniversary of Peru's independence from Spanish rule in the year 1824. Peruvian independence day celebrated for two days with both days declared national holidays. This celebrations usually involve a lot of fun.The festivities in Peru begin with the president's speech to the nation, followed by hoisting of the flag, military parades, bullfights and fireworks. Besides, there are also exhibitions and fairs held on the Peruvian Independence Day.

St. Rose of Lima was born in the present-day city of Lima (Peru). She received the baptismal name Isabel Flores de Oliva. She was beatified by Clement IX, in 1667, and canonized in 1671 by Clement X, becoming the first American saint. Represented in numerous images wearing a crown of roses, her feast day is celebrated 30 August.

October 8, is a Peruvian national holiday in rememberance of the Naval Battle of Angamos. In this historic naval engagement in 1879, Adm. Miguel Grau of the Peruvian navy was killed in action after nearly five months of preventing Chilean naval invasion using only a single ironclad turret ship and a handful of frigates. This National holiday is remembered as the Combate Naval de Angamos in peru.

All Saints’ Day is a celebration of all Christian saints, known and unknown, and especially for those saints who have no special feast days of their own.Peruvians may attend mass and visit cemeteries in memory of the dead, especially loved ones.

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception celebrates belief in the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is celebrated on 8 December, nine months before the Nativity of Mary, which is celebrated on 8 September.Total country, Peruvians celebrate this religious holiday with devotion, to honor the Immaculate Conception of Virgin Mary.