Peruvian Independence Day is a two-day celebration on July 28-29. The first day celebrates Peru’s declaration of independence on July 28, 1824. The second day celebrates the founding of the Republic of Peru with military and police events.
Peruvian Independence Day in New York City
New York City’s Peruvian Independence celebrations include:
- The Peruvian Parade and Festival in Paterson, New Jersey. Paterson is the center of America’s Peruvian community, so this is Metro New York’s big Peruvian Independence celebration.
- The Peruvian Day Parade in Jackson Heights, Queens.
Peruvian Independence Day in Peru
Peruvian Independence Day or Las Fiestas Patrias (Fatherland Festival) celebrates the declaration of independence of Peru from Spain by José de San Martín. San Martín was an Argentine general who fought in the Spanish American wars of Independence in Argentina, Chile and Peru. Simón Bolivar “El Libertador” (the Liberator) finished what San Martín started.
- July 28 is a festival day. It begins with a Mass, a congressional ceremony, and then the Peruvian President addresses the nation with sort of a State of the Union speech.
- July 29 is a family day that honors the Peruvian armed forces and police with a Great Military Parade.
The Peruvian War of Independence
The Peruvian War of Independence started in 1811 and mostly ended in 1824 soon after the Spaniards lost the Battle of Junín to Simón Bolivar and the Battle of Ayacucho to Antonio José de Sucre.
The struggle for independence began during the Peninsular War in Europe (1807-1814). Napoleon’s army destroyed the Spanish government, leaving regions of Spain and its Empire to figure things out for themselves. Native rebellions and the redistribution of Spanish power to Bogotá, Colombia and Buenos Aires, Argentina contributed to the general chaos.
Peru’s Inca culture was the largest pre-Columbian civilization in the Americas. Lima, Peru was the capital from which the Spaniards originally controlled South America. These factors made the independence of Peru an important step in the liberation of South America from outside domination.