History of Santurantikuy

Let’s start with a bit of its incredible history, “Santurantikuy” is a mixture of Spanish and Quechua words that translates as “Sale of Saints”; just like its name, the Santuratikuy is a complex process of synthesis of cultures, the Andean and the colonial European.

There is no clear date of the beginning of this celebration, it is said that it originated in the sixteenth century, the oldest review with a reference to Santurantikuy dates from 1834 and is not called by this name. Despite this certain mystery, what we know for sure is that the Santurantikuy is a Spanish creation of the colonial era, imposed in order to evangelize the Peruvian Indians, because as its name says, since ancient times images of Catholic Saints were sold on the stairs of the Cathedral of Cusco.

Among the saints that were and are offered, the protagonist is the “Niño Manuelito”. The name Manuelito comes from a tender variation of “Emmanuel”, as the baby Jesus is also known according to the Catholic tradition, which in Peru became Spanish as Manuel.

The Cusqueños of the time adopted as their own the concept of the Baby Manuelito in such a way that they dressed him as Inca king, this practice started by the Jesuits and unleashed indignation in the Catholic Church. Today, the Infant Manuelito continues to be a beloved figure for the people of Cusco, especially at Christmas time; in the Santurantikuy you can find hundreds of images and sculptures of the Infant Manuelito, in different sizes and designs. The best known and valued for its fineness is the design of Antonio Olave Palomino, who 40 years ago designed the first Niño de la Espina, or Niño Manuelito. The Cusquenian artist was based on an oral tradition from Vilcabamba.

The Niño Manuelito is extremely important for the Cusqueños and Cusqueñas; he always adorns the traditional nativity scenes and every year it is customary to buy new clothes for the child. The ideal place to find the new outfit for the Niño Manuelito is, of course, the Santurantikuy, where you can find clothes of different sizes and varied designs, some traditional and others witty and innovative.

Traditional Products of the Fair Santurantikuy

You already know something of the extensive and complex history of the Santurantikuy and about its main protagonist, now we will tell you about all the wonderful works that you will see in the Santurantikuy. There is so much variety and so many unique products that you will wish you had a bigger suitcase to take it all!

Let’s start with the traditional: at the Santurantikuy everything you need to put together a Christmas Nativity is on display, and we’re not just talking about beautiful nativity scenes with the figures of St. Joseph, the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus, in Cusco they put together nativity scenes that include entire cities that can take up a whole room.

The Santurantikuy is celebrated every year on December 24.
On the eve of Christmas, the Plaza de Armas of Cusco is transformed to receive the artisans, sculptors and image makers from Cusco who show their best works in the peculiar Christmas fair that every year summons and enchants hundreds of locals and tourists.