12:00 | Huamanga (Ayacucho region), Dec. 23.
The Vinchos district in Huamanga province, Ayacucho region, has launched one of its most emblematic and eagerly awaited celebrations: the Vinchos Christmas Festival 2025.
It is a festivity that goes beyond the religious sphere to become a true reunion with Vinchos people’s identity, roots, and collective memory.
During its official launch on December 22, the city of Ayacucho's main streets came alive with color, music, and emotion, as watias and the traditional weraqos took part—figures that embody a cultural heritage kept alive through the passage of time.
These artistic expressions filled locals and visitors alike with joy, reaffirming the value of Andean traditions within the context of the Christmas celebrations.
Festival activities will take place from today, December 23, through Saturday, December 27, at Vinchos' Main Square. There, artistic performances, traditional dances, and cultural expressions showcasing the district's rich heritage will be held.
The aim is to promote and showcase the district's deeply-rooted traditions.
Vinchos Mayor Faustino Flores officially launched the festival.
Likewise, he extended a warm invitation to local and regional residents, as well as visitors, to come to the district and experience a different kind of Christmas—one rich in tradition and culture.
Thus, the Vinchos Christmas Festival 2025 stands out as a valuable opportunity to discover and explore the diverse cultural expressions that define Christmas celebrations in Ayacucho.
The Weraqos: A living Christmas tradition
The weraqos —also known as wiraqus— are traditional characters known for their sharp sense of humor and their ability to mock people without mercy, using the Quechua language as their main tool of expression.
Their performances are filled with laughter, jokes, and playful teasing, creating a sense of fun and complicity with the audience.
They later take part in lively dances to the rhythm of the harp and violin, showcasing great physical skill through acrobatics and agile movements, which add a strong visual and artistic dimension to their performances.
Their presence at festivals and cultural events is essential to the preservation and transmission of this ancestral tradition, which remains very much alive nowadays.
(END) FTY/MAO/MVB
Published: 12/23/2025