Día de la Canción Criolla — a short history and why Peru celebrates it every October 31

Every October 31 Peruans celebrate the Día de la Canción Criolla, a national day that honors the country’s criollo and Afro‑Peruvian musical traditions — the valses, festejos, marinera and other rhythms that helped shape modern Peruvian identity.

The date was formally established by Supreme Resolution on October 18, 1944, during the presidency of Manuel Prado Ugarteche, following requests from musical and cultural organizations to recognize popular Creole song as part of the nation’s cultural patrimony. The first official celebrations on October 31, 1944 included flag‑raisings at musical centers, a commemorative mass in the Church of El Carmen (Barrios Altos) and public serenades that stretched into the night.

Beyond the official decree, the day grew from decades of musical life in Lima’s neighborhoods (Barrios Altos, El Rímac, La Victoria) where Spanish, Indigenous and African influences fused into the criollo sound still treasured today. Every year the date is an excuse for jarana‑filled streets, peñas, concerts and family gatherings; the day also coincides with the passing of beloved artists such as Lucha Reyes, which has made the date emotionally resonant for many Peruvians.

At Uchu Wasi we celebrate these living traditions: music that tells stories of migration, creativity and shared identity. Whether you join a serenade in Lima or listen to a classic criollo recording, October 31 is a great moment to discover the sounds that are part of Peru’s cultural heartbeat.

Photo credits: PROMPERU