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In this Dec. 25, 2015 photo, Karen Quispe, left, and Margarita Rengifo, who don't know each other, throw punches during the "Takanakuy" ritual fighting event on the outskirts of Lima, Peru on Christmas day. Only once a judge has ruled one of the combatants licked do they stop fighting. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)![peru_ritual__12_]()
In this Dec. 25, 2015 photo, Felipe Condori, left, and Teo Quispe throw punches during the "Takanakuy" ritual fighting event on the outskirts of Lima, Peru on Christmas day. In Peru, it has long been practiced in the highlands province of Chumbivilcas near Cuzco and more recently it has spread to outlying neighborhoods of Lima. It is a relative of a custom that people in the highlands of neighboring Bolivia call Tinku. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)![peru_ritual__13_]()
In this Dec. 25, 2015 photo, 10-year-old Jonathan Bobadilla wears a hat made from a deer's head as he poses for a portrait before the start of the "Takanakuy" ritual fighting event on the outskirts of Lima, Peru on Christmas day. Bobadilla said he always comes with his older brother, who gifted him his hat, and that he'll be dancing instead of fighting. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)![peru_ritual__6_]()
In this Dec. 25, 2015 photo, fighter Freddy Pacco puts his hat on before taking part in a "Takanakuy" ritual fighting event on the outskirts of Lima, Peru on Christmas day. I fight because it is a tradition and to prove my bravery, said Pacco. The fighters wear birds or other dead animals on their heads for a more intimidating look, he explained. Pacco said the bird is a "cernicalo," a kind of falcon. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)![peru_ritual__14_]()
In this Dec. 25, 2015 photo, people buy food inside the arena hosting the "Takanakuy" ritual fighting event on the outskirts of Lima, Peru on Christmas day. The sign reads "Kitchen," where people can get beer, fried pork and fried potatoes. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)![peru_ritual__15_]()
In this Dec. 25, 2015 photo, holding a bottle of beer, a masked fighter dances as he waits for a volunteer to challenge him at the "Takanakuy" ritual fighting event on the outskirts of Lima, Peru on Christmas day. Pretty much everything goes during the fighting, except for the use of rings on fingers. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)![peru_ritual__3_]()
In this Dec. 25, 2015 photo, Andean indigenous dancer Waira Sacsi is helped with her hair by her mother Flor before the start of the "Takanakuy" fighting ritual on the outskirts of Lima, Peru on Christmas day. Dancers open the event to traditional Andean music known as "Huaylia." (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)![peru_ritual__18_]()
In this Dec. 25, 2015 photo, a masked fighter wears a dead fox hat before the start of the "Takanakuy" fighting ritual event on the outskirts of Lima, Peru on Christmas day. One of the fighters explained they wear dead animals for a more intimidating look. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)![peru_ritual__8_]()
In this Dec. 25, 2015 photo, Gravino Huamani, right, fights Javier Sanchez at the "Takanakuy" ritual fighting event on the outskirts of Lima, Peru on Christmas day. The men don't know each other but took up the challenge to fight. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)![peru_ritual__17_]()
In this Dec. 25, 2015 photo, Andean indigenous women dance before the start of the "Takanakuy" ritual fighting event on the outskirts of Lima, Peru on Christmas day. In the Canto Grande neighborhood, a piece of land used on most days as a parking lot is converted into a plaza for bullfights and regional celebrations, including the ritual fights. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)![peru_ritual__4_]()
In this Dec. 25, 2015 photo, dancers wearing traditional Andean dresses eat lunch before the "Takanakuy" ritual fighting event on the outskirts of Lima, Peru on Christmas day. During the fights, women sing "huaylia" music accompanied by accordions, harps, violins and mandolins. The lyrics, in Quechua, include such lines as "Child, fear not when rivers of blood flow." (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)![peru_ritual__10_]()
In this Dec. 25, 2015 photo, Andres Humani waits for the start of the "Takanakuy" ritual fighting event on the outskirts of Lima, Peru on Christmas day. Humani incorporated parts of his butcher uniform into his costume. Fighters dress up in costumes of Andean folklore figures, with the ski masks an integral part of the costume. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)![peru_ritual__1_]()
In this Dec. 25, 2015 photo, Nestor Gabina, left, embraces his neighbor Gabriel Anaya after their fight at the "Takanakuy" ritual fighting event on the outskirts of Lima, Peru on Christmas day. The long time neighbors fought over the exact line between their properties, a dispute that has even been brought before the local courts. The fight lasted only a few minutes before the referee separated them without proclaiming an official winner. The men hugged and broke down in tears. Then they calmed the mix of adrenaline and shame with more beer. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)![peru_ritual__2_]()
In this Dec. 25, 2015 photo, Nestor Gabina, center, fights his neighbor Gabriel Anaya during a "Takanakuy" ritual fighting event on the outskirts of Lima, Peru on Christmas day. The long time neighbors fought over the exact line between their properties, a dispute that has even been brought before the local courts. The fight lasted only a few minutes before the referee separated them without proclaiming an official winner. The men hugged and broke down in tears. Then they calmed the mix of adrenaline and shame with more beer. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)![peru_ritual__5_]()
In this Dec. 25, 2015 photo, masked fighter Renato Nunez, center, waits for a volunteer to challenge him during the "Takanakuy" ritual fighting event on the outskirts of Lima, Peru on Christmas day. When he found his fight partner, Nunez stood face-to-face with him before taking his mask off. He didnât need much time to defeat his rival, who soon had blood flowing down his face. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)![peru_ritual__16_]()
In this Dec. 25, 2015 photo, Margarita Rengifo is helped with her ceremonial belt before participating in the "Takanakuy" ritual fighting event on the outskirts of Lima, Peru on Christmas day. Rengifo fought for sport, but some fight to resolve family and personal conflicts, to gain the love of a young woman, or defend a relative or friend who was vanquished in an earlier contest. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)![peru_ritual__11_]()
In this Dec. 25, 2015 photo, Gravino Huamani holds his broken nose after loosing a fight at the "Takanakuy" fighting ritual event on the outskirts of Lima, Peru. The popular festival is celebrated in the summer and on Christmas day. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)![peru_ritual__9_]()
In this Dec. 25, 2015 photo, an Andean indigenous woman wearing a traditional dress dances while holding a statue of baby Jesus at the start of a ritual fighting event on the outskirts of Lima, Peru on Christmas day. Music was played at full volume, innumerable cases of beer were consumed and the statue of Baby Jesus was paraded around during the episode of ritual fighting that locals call "Takanakuy," which in the Quechua language roughly means to beat each other up. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)First rule of Peru's 'Takanakuy': Fight!
Music played at full volume, much consumption of beer and a life-size baby Jesus doll being paraded around while people pummel each other are the hallmarks of the Christmas Day ritual fighting locals call "Takanakuy," which in the Quechua language means, "beat each other up."
Move Forward
- First rule of Peru's 'Takanakuy': Fight!
