"Fiesta andina" : between the sacred and the profane

The time of fiesta is one of the most important events in life of Andean communities (comunidades). Besides its religious function, fiesta is a moment that renews social bonds based on kinship and reciprocity. These bonds have been tying the present day members of the comunidad andina since the pre-Columbian times. The fiesta andina, with all its aspects (the feast in honor of the saints, the liturgical ceremony, and the celebration of the work) can be seen as a kind of a bridge between the sacred and the profane. Th is article is based on the results of field research conducted in 2012/2013 in the area of the Peruvian provinces of Canta and Huarochiri.