Santa Rosa De Lima is a public holiday celebrated annually on August 30th in Peru. This day marks the anniversary of Saint Rosa of Lima, the patron saint of Peru and the New World during the Spanish encounters. St. Rosa of Lima is the first canonized saint of the Americas, and her faith representation extends a widespread dedication in South America.
The celebrations of Santa Rosa De Lima are mostly religious, encompassing processions, masses, and various esteemed services held in churches and public squares around the country. The historic Sanctuary of Santa Rosa, where her remains are kept, is often a pivotal point of homage. Here, thousands of devotees gather not just from Peru but from all around the world, to pay respect and witness the various activities including prayers and offerings.
Among the traditions associated with Santa Rosa De Lima's holiday, there is the well-known 'Wishing Well.' It is believed that Saint Rosa threw her key into this well, a symbol of her commitment to her vow of virginity and defying her parents' desire for her to marry. Nowadays, locals and tourists alike write their desires on paper and throw it into the well, in the belief that Saint Rosa will help those wishes to be fulfilled in the coming year.