Kurusu Ára, Day of the Cross
Crosses decked with hundreds of chipas and peanut rosaries: a popular devotion lived in homes and chapels.
What it is
Every May 3, Paraguayan families and communities set up calvaries with crosses dressed in chipas, peanut rosaries and flowers, then pray and share food with their neighbors. Some altars are monumental: in Asunción, one family calvary of about 3,000 chipas has been kept up for almost a century, and in San Lorenzo more than a thousand have been prepared. In the countryside there are processions, prayers and celebrations in rural chapels.
What to see and do
- Calvaries decorated with chipas and peanuts
- Prayers and shared meals in homes and chapels
- Community celebrations in the countryside
Tips
There’s no fixed program: ask at parishes or at your accommodation where a calvary is open to visitors. Ask permission before photographing family altars.
Dates may shift to the nearest weekend.
Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 2 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.