When art, justice, and politics meet

What is celebrated this March 18th in Peru: when art, justice, and politics meet
Among reforms, influential figures, and cultural symbols, this day highlights decisive moments in the country's development.
What happened on this day? Several events are commemorated in Peru on March 18th. In 1828, the liberal Constitution was promulgated, establishing the bicameral system and expanding the right to citizenship.
In 1966, Álvaro Vargas Llosa, journalist and essayist, was born. In 1999, Gonzalo Ortiz de Zevallos Roedel, the first Attorney General and constituent congressman, died. In 2004, Sofocleto, a writer and comedian famous for his political satire, died.

The National Day of the Pucará Bull, a symbol of protection and fertility in Andean culture, is also celebrated. Fairs and workshops are organized to preserve this traditional Puno craft.
The Political Constitution of the Peruvian Republic of 1828, approved on March 18 of that year, was the country's third Magna Carta and was liberal in nature. This constitution established the form of government as a representative popular republic consolidated in unity.
Among its notable provisions, citizenship was granted to all free men over the age of 21, regardless of their educational level, and a bicameral system composed of senators and deputies was adopted.
Furthermore, the electoral power present in the previous Lifetime Constitution was abolished. Although it was briefly in force, until 1834, this constitution laid the foundation for future Peruvian constitutions, serving as a model until the constitution of 1920.
March 18, 1966 - Álvaro Vargas Llosa, writer, politician, and son of Nobel Prize winner Mario Vargas Llosa, was born.
Álvaro Vargas Llosa is a Spanish-Peruvian essayist, journalist, and political scientist. The son of Nobel Prize winner Mario Vargas Llosa, he studied in England and graduated in International History.

He has worked in media outlets in Latin America, the United States, and Europe, managing publishing houses and appearing in television and radio. He was a political advisor in Peru and directed the Center on Global Prosperity.

He has received multiple awards for his intellectual and journalistic work. In 2012, his article on the maritime dispute between Peru and Chile generated controversy. The author of several books, he has focused on the defense of freedom and political and economic analysis. March 18, 1999 - Death of Gonzalo Ortiz de Zevallos Roedel, lawyer who served as the first Attorney General of Peru from 1981 to 1983
Gonzalo Ortiz de Zevallos Roedel was a Peruvian lawyer and jurist. He was the first Attorney General of Peru (1981-1983), appointed by the government of Fernando Belaúnde Terry. He was also a constituent congressman (1992-1995), participating in the drafting of the 1993 Constitution.

During his career, he served as a judge, supreme court judge, and dean of the Lima Bar Association. Although he supported some measures of the Fujimori government, he also collaborated in anti-corruption investigations.

He died in 1999, and the Graduate School bearing his name was founded in his honor at the Attorney General's Office. March 18, 2004 - Luis Felipe Angell de Lama, writer and humorist, known as Sofocleto, dies
Luis Felipe Angell de Lama, known as Sofocleto, was a Peruvian writer, journalist, and humorist renowned for his wit and irony. From a young age, he displayed a fascination with literature, accumulating a vast library and writing thousands of sonnets and aphorisms.

He was a diplomat, but abandoned his studies to dedicate himself to journalism and political satire, suffering deportation and imprisonment.

He published in Peruvian and international media and founded the humorous newspaper "Don Sofo." His prolific and biting work left unforgettable quotes and nicknames. He died in 2004, leaving a legacy of intelligent humor and social criticism in Peruvian literature.
March 18 is celebrated in Peru as the National Day of the Pucará Bull, in recognition of this emblematic handicraft originating in the Puno region. The Pucará Bull is a ceramic figurine that symbolizes protection, fertility, and prosperity in Andean culture.

According to legend, during a drought in Pucará, a bull destined for sacrifice struck a rock with its horns, causing water to gush forth and saving the village.

Traditionally, these bulls are placed on the roofs of Andean homes as good-luck charms. Various activities, such as craft fairs and workshops, are held on March 18th to promote and preserve this cultural tradition.
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