World Insights Bringing You best of world at one placeIn Cusco in Peru, the beginning of the New Year is celebrated on the winter solstice (the reverse to the Northern Hemisphere), which this year falls on 24 June 2012. At this time, the sun is the farthest from the earth, so ancient people would ask the Sun God to return. The celebration, Inti Raymi, or Festival of the Sun is the second largest festival held in Latin America and it originated during the time of the Inca Empire.
The Inca people gathered during the pre-dawn hours of the winter solstice, waiting for the sun. When the sun rose, an offering was given at the Qoricancha, the Temple of the Sun, followed by the sacrifice of a llama to ensure bountiful crops. After this ceremony, there were nine days of celebration, including feasting, parties, dancing, singing, and general merrymaking.
