Peruvian Christmas Traditions

Peru is a multicultural society. The population is such a mix of ethnicities, nationalities and cultural influences that one could actually best describe it with the term super-diversity - in other words, a post-multicultural society. In case of Peru, the continuous migration flows keep on enriching the already ethnically, linguistically and socially diverse population.  All of this is reflected into traditions, of course, which are adapting to the foreign influences making it their own.


This year I sent some Christmas cards (only half of them arrived to their destination...the rest is a mystery), and they kind of reflect this spirit of multiculturalism, or Andean synchretism, if you wish.

Or what do you think? Baby Jesus greeted by model looking Andean shephards and llamas...I love these post cards!


Another Christmas tradition I like is eating Panetón, which is nothing else than a Peruvian version of Italian Christmas pastry, Panettone. A legacy of numerous Peruvians of Italian ancestry.

This mini Paneton was a Christmas present from a Middle Eastern restaurant called Tierra Santa.
Perfect with some Oriental tea from Mariage Frères (which I can't find here, so had to bring it from France...). Delicious...but I admit that my favorite is Chocoton: like Paneton, but instead of raisins and dry fruits you have chocolates chips inside. Easier to eat, as for traditional Paneton I need to hand pick all the raisins out, which makes eating a complicated and slow process...

For now, I am going to start preparations for my own Christmas celebrations, and wish to all my readers very Merry Christmas!!!!