SOUVENIRS TO BRING HOME FROM PERU - PUCARA BULLS

See also our post What to bring home from Peru

Peru has a huge variety of souvenir articles you can bring home for your family, friends or for yourself. These articles are crafted by local artisans; they come from different parts of the country and are inspired in traditions, animals, colonial art, typical textiles, etc.

Toritos de Pucara or Pucara Bulls are souvenir examples that represent part of our cultural heritage. You can find these nice bulls in different sizes and prices in the markets and handicraft shops during your trip to Peru.

As it´s known, they are still made using the original manufacturing techniques,original colors and molded in the traditional clay ovens, although you may find Pucarabulls painted in brighter colors with typically Andean designs.

Toritos 5

Toritos 9

But what are these bulls? What do they represent?

While you travel in Peru, especially in the countryside of Cusco and Puno, it´s very common to see in the roof of almost all houses two small bulls made of clay placed side by side accompanied by a ladder and a cross.

Toritos 8

They are the Puccara Bulls, pottery bulls with brown, green and ochre decorations.

These bulls were originally made as a ritual element and appeared in the early years of the Spanish colony. The bull figure was also a jar and was used to hold a beverage made of fermented corn (chicha) which was mixed with the blood of cattle and drunk by the high priest conducting the cattle-branding ceremony with the purpose of protect their cattle.

Nowadays, the bulls are still used but with a different purpose. It’s believed by the locals that they keep the house safe with a blessing to the “Apus” (the Inca mountain gods) and ensure health, wealth, and unity for the occupants of the house.

The bulls are combined with a ladder and a cross to allow easy passage to heaven when the final call comes.

They can be an excellent souvenir to take home from Peru!