*Article* **Cultural Identity: A Case Study in The Celebration of the San Antonio De Padua (Lajas, Perú)**

**Miguel Angel Ruiz Palacios 1,2,\*, Lourdes Guevara Villalobos 2, Cristiana Pereira Teixeira de Oliveira <sup>3</sup> and Elena María Pérez González <sup>4</sup>**


**Abstract:** This study presented the first analytical experience of cultural changes in the Lajas population by analyzing their social perceptions and cultural manifestations. Moreover, an increase in the number of visitors and tourism generated new interactions that often have unknown impacts on a particular community and its people. A qualitative methodology consisting of observations and semi-structured interviews was employed to evaluate the evolution of customs during the celebration of Lajas population religious functions between 2003 and 2018. The study results revealed that in the town of Lajas, while the population recognized ways in which their customs have changed in recent decades, they were unable to determine whether or not such changes affected their cultural identity and the preservation of their cultural heritage. Further, on analyzing the obtained data and comparing it with the proposed theoretical framework, we observed a gap between social participation and public administration management, the transformation of the existing model to a centralized management control model, and the creation of an official identity. Hence, such observations are necessary to lay the foundation for future studies to avoid negative impacts and generate sustainable management strategies that would justify the effort in conserving cultural identity.

**Keywords:** cultural identity; heritage; popular religious festival; cultural change; Peru
