Inca Festivals

           The majority of the festivals all involved, dancing, music, drinking and feasts. There where two main drinks that the Inca would drink, Maize beer and Chicha, which I have had the pleasure of trying myself.

Inti Raimi

 During Inti Raimi the Inca invoked Viracocha and Pachacamac, followed by them invoking the sun and thunder. Incas would dress costumes and the people of the hierarchy would dress with a lot of gold and silver. The costumes would be made of various materials, like masks made of wood, or being dressed in puma skin.   The festival would be open by The emperor (or the Inca), his family, and Curaca. Then the emperor take a invitation drink of Chicha, then holding the cup in his right hand he poured it into a jar, which had a spout that lead the drink into a stone channel that went to the sun temple. This symbolized the sun drinking the beverage. In his left hand the emperor held another glass that he sipped from, and then passed to the other Incas. This symbolized the Inca taking in the sun. After this they went to the House of the Sun, while this happened the Incas would remove their shoes, all except the emperor, he would take his shoes off at the entrance to the House. There the Emperor and his family would enter the temple. The rest of the Incas would give the emperor gold and silver representations of animals of their province. Then they would sacrifice a llama, and cook if in a fire started by the sun (reflection of the sun from the priest's golden bracelet igniting a cotton like substance.) then examine the heart and lungs to see if the sacrifice was good enough for the sun. If acceptable this would insure a good harvest, and health for livestock. Then the meat would be given to the people starting the The Inca, then to the governors, then to the Inca people. After all of this the Inca's would toast. Toasting was very important. First the Inca's would toast to generals or governors which ever they wanted to drink with them. They would do this by presenting to cups, one he would offer to the general or governor, the other he would drink. After the governor drank he would return the cup and the Inca would give thanks with kissing gestures. After the generals and governors, everyone would toast with the Inca.

Inti Raimi usually lasted nine days, full of feasting, dancing, and drinking.

   Actors gathering around the sacrificial fire in an Initi Raimi       reenactment.