For more than 5,000 years, cute little guinea pigs have been the center of many cultural activities and local cuisine for Peruvian communities and indigenous tribes. Today, this tiny animal has a special day on the list of national holidays in Peru. On the second Friday of October, the country celebrates National Guinea Pig Day. Also, there are local festivals, which are even more important.
Guinea Pig Festival Program
Between the period of July and November, many villages and cities across the country commemorate guinea pigs. The most popular happen in Huancayo, Lima, Cusco, and Huacho. Each celebration includes a "beauty contest" where the most well-dressed and the biggest rodents are chosen. Some even define mister and miss guinea pigs. The creativity of pet owners really has no limits. Tiny animals are dressed as miners, queens, dancers, and so on. The celebration also features a guinea pig race, exhibitions, gastronomic fairs, and live concerts.
Usually, every celebration ends with a reception where the main ingredient of most of the dishes is cuy. Cuy is how guinea pigs are called in Peru. You may even see large plates that are decorated with fried rodents, who "stand" among vegetables and herbs. If you decide to try cuy, then go for the famous chactado, which is the flattened and split open fried animal.
Guinea Pig Festival History
The second Friday of October is the annual celebration established by the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation in 2013. By holding this event, the ministry aims to popularize guinea pigs at the national and international levels. Guinea pig is the main ingredient in many famous dishes of Peruvian cuisine, so people add its meat to their daily menu. It's important to acknowledge that the guinea pig is recognized as a part of the Nation's Natural Heritage.
