Peru Independence Day

Peru Independence Day History

Peru Independence Day is a momentous celebration that commemorates the country's liberation from Spanish rule. The ceremonies showcase Peruvian culture and national identity, including president's speech, . It is one of the most celebrated holidays in Peru as it is the equivalent of the Fiestas Patrias celebration in Chile.

The foundation for this significant event was laid by liberator José de San Martín, who declared Peru’s independence from Spain on July 28, 1821. The struggle for independence was a courageous endeavor that spanned around two decades, bearing fruit when San Martín's proclamation was recognized by Spain in 1879. Today, this national holiday serves as a reminder of Peru's difficult journey towards sovereignty and the unwavering spirit of its people.

Notable features of the day include elaborate parades, grand military displays, and folkloric dances, showing off Peru's blend of indigenous, African, and European influences. Moreover, it's a day of feasting, with traditional Peruvian cuisines dominating tables countrywide. Throughout much of the country, homes and businesses are adorned with the Peruvian flag, as parties and fireworks round out the festivities. Peru Independence Day is a two-day celebration, that starts the night before, and extends into the 29th of July.

Peru Independence Day facts

• From this moment on, Peru is free and independent; by the general will of the people and by the justice of its cause defended by God. Long live the homeland! Long live liberty! Long live independence!- José de San Martín, Liberator, 1821
• Famous late rapper Tupac Amaru Shakur was named after Peruvian leader, Túpac Amaru II. Túpac Amaru II led an uprising against the Spanish colonizers, for which he and part of his family were executed. He was tied to horses who pulled from his extremities to rip him apart. After that failed, he was decapitated.
• Peruvian Mario Vargas Llosa won the 2010 Nobel Prize in Literature "for his cartography of structures of power and his trenchant images of the individual's resistance, revolt, and defeat."
• It is celebrated with famous beef stew and potatoes, ceviche, lomo saltado, aji de gallina, grilled chicken and many soups.

In the News and Trending for Peru Independence Day

Top things to do for Peru Independence Day

• Prepare Peru's most famous dish, ceviche. Click here for ingredients and directions.
• Watch the 1997 wildlife documentary The Living Edens: Manu. It is filmed in the Manu National Park in Peru.
• Read the 1995 novel The Time of the Hero by Peruvian Nobel Prize-winning author Mario Vargas Llosa.