Approaches to the cultural urbanization of the Inti Raymi celebration in Quito

Abstract

The celebration of Inti Raymi is part of the cultural heritage of the Andean peoples. That holiday was censored by the Catholicism that was established in Latin America with Spanish colonization; However, it is a ritual that has survived through cultural syncretism. From this mixture has emerged the current Festival of the Sun, which has always tried to rescue the cultural elements, songs, costumes and original customs. From the positive perspective, currently, Inti Raymi has become a celebration with the category of tourist attraction in places like Cayambe and Otavalo; In Quito, still, it is a celebration that has hints of miscegenation and that has gradually become a new version of the ancient Inca festival. In the capital, Inti Raymi has two interesting aspects that are part of its essence: the prominence of the cultural mix between the indigenous and the mestizo in addition to the economic dynamization that arises benefiting informal commerce and micro entrepreneurs. The city celebrates very much in the style of Quito.