The Word «Solstice’ comes from the Latin solstitium, meaning sun and statum, or stationary sun. It occurs at a time of year when the sun is over one of the tropics, making the day or night the longest of the year.
It usually occurs around 21 June. For those in the northern hemisphere, it is the summer solstice, bringing the longest day and shortest night. In the southern hemisphere, it is the winter solstice and means the opposite: the shortest day and longest night. Both have one thing in common: the rituals, celebrations and traditions centred on the sun as a symbol of rebirth and hope.
Sunrise in Cusco, by David Martínez
We head to the southern hemisphere, in Peru, where in Cuzco Inti Raymi, the festival of the sun, takes place. An ancient Inca religious ceremony honouring the god Inti. It is a symbol of gratitude to Mother Earth for her kindness in the production and harvest of traditional products. It is celebrated with music and dance.
This festival was established by the Inca Pachacutec more than 6 centuries ago as a festival honouring the Sun God. The people of Cusco still celebrate it with their ancestors' fervour. It takes place on 24 June; the city's festivities were established in 1994 to commemorate its ancient origins and its role as the cradle of the great Inca civilisation.
In Cusco, three locations are used for this celebration: Quorikancha that in the Inca era was the temple consecrated to the sun,to Plaza de Armas that during the Inca Empire, the entire celebration took place there, and finally the Saqsaywaman Cusco’s archaeological centre.
⇒ Learn more about our trip to Peru