A matter of religion

In Peru, religion is a very important matter.

When I entered in the differents churchs of Nasca or in the other cities we visited, I always saw differents Virgin Mary with differents names and, often, the Virgin is the one in the center of the chruch while in France it's Jesus. I wanted to know why.

One of our Peruvian friend explained to me that it was always the same Virgin Mary but she took different names and attributes according to the city. When the Peruvians do the religious processions in the street, they take their own Virgin and they carry her in their back.

If Catholicism is very important in Peru, it is not the only religion they have. From what I understood, there are also Mormons and Evangelists and Protestants.

But Peru has a very ancient history. And before the colonization they had their own beliefs. Nowadays, those beliefs still exists and the Andin culture is conserved by the locals populations.

The Chaman and the healers for example still exist and we can still assist at some ceremonies because a part of the Peruvian's population still believes in this religion.

In our daily life as volunteeer, we assist at the kids prayers before each meal. They also make prayers at nights before to go to sleep.