Passion cross

Originating in Quinua, an artisan centre in the Peruvian region of Ayacucho, the Passion Cross (Spanish cruz de la pasión) has, apart from the head of the suffering Christ in the crown of thorns placed in the central part, also numerous attributes and symbols of the Passion, such as: a heart, a tunic, a chalice, a rooster, a ladder, spears, pincers and a hammer. The colours used, wavy and floral design and the technique of execution, typical for these crosses, are similar to those used in the retablos boxes, which are a Peruvian national heritage. The cross-makers of the Ayacucho region are often also involved in the production of retablos and santolinos – small figurines depicting Catholic saints.

Cruces de la pasión are often placed inside houses to protect against evil. They look like roadside crosses popular throughout Peru called caminantes. Initially, they had only religious use, focused on family and private celebrations. Over time, they also became a form of commercially produced decoration.

There are different types of crosses in Peru: iron crosses mounted on the roofs of rural houses cruces de techo, roadside cruces de camino, mountain cruces de cerros, ceremonial cruces ceremoniales, cruces de mayo celebrating the month of May and many more. They are made by local craftsmen, often tinsmiths, blacksmiths, locksmiths or carpenters. They are used during carnivals, Holy Week and on the occasion of various local customs and celebrations. A special event is the Feast of the Cross – Fiesta de las Cruces, celebrated mainly in the Andean highlands, on May 3. A special procession, accompanied by folk music and traditional dances, carries the cross decorated with fabrics and flowers to the church. Ritual celebrations of this holiday also give hope for a good harvest.

Katarzyna Findlik-Gawron