Inti+Raymi+By+Emma+Hall

The Inca empire would have a celebration for the winter solstice or known as the Andean New Years. The winter solstice is on the 21st but the sun stays out until the 24th of June. On June 24th the Inti Raymi is celebrated. This is the most important festival because it celebrates the sun. The Tahuantinsuyo empire based religion on the sun God. In the city of Cusco is where the celebration takes place.

The people participating in the celebration was sapa Inca, nobility and Inca army. They would paint there face yellow and wore deer heads using the antlers for music.Dancing and singing had a big roll in the celebration. So did sacrifice, children under ten were sacrificed and black llama. Llamas were cut open by a sacrificial axe called a Tumi. They would spill the organs and the organs would predict the future. But before this happened three days before the celebration you had to fast and only eat white maize and a herb called chucam. This lasted for nine days. At the end women would throw red flowers and feathers to end the celebration.

Nowadays its just a play to feel the Inca past, but without the sacrifice. The Spanish prohibited it from happening because it was pagan like. The Spanish were catholic and anything not catholic they didn't like. By 1572 viceroy Francisco de Toledo officially banned the celebration.