| Because of the strong influence of the Roman Catholic
church, many Nicaraguan holidays are Catholic holy days. Semana Santa,
or Holy Week, is a very important Nicaraguan holiday, and most people have
a week's holiday. Christmas Eve is also an important holiday.
Nicaraguans observe a special holiday on
December 7 and 8 called La Purísima, which celebrates the
Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. Each family builds an altar inside
the entrance to the house. The door is left open so that the altar is visible
from the street, and guests are invited to come and worship at the altar.
Guests are also given special Purísima gifts, such as sweets
made from sugar cane or useful but inexpensive consumer goods. A large
celebration takes place in León, attended by Catholics from all
over Central America. After an evening mass on December 7, the León
Cathedral bells ring, and people set off fireworks. Street performers entertain
and the partying often goes on all night. |
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| Many towns and cities have patron saints and hold
an annual celebration for the saint. The saint's statue is carried through
the streets in procession. The celebrations may also include mock battles
making fun of the original Spanish conquerors or processions of people
in masks and giant puppets (called Las Gigantonas), which entertain
with music and comedy. These patronal festivals, often called Toro Guaco,
are particularly famous in the Carazo area south of Managua and in León.
León celebrates its patron saint, San Jerónimo (St.
Jerome) on September 30. The town of Diriamba honours St. Sebastian on
January 20 and Jinotepe celebrates Santiago (St. James) on July
20.
Nicaragua's Independence Day commemorates
Central America's independence from Spain, which was declared in 1821.
Liberation Day on July 19 acknowledges the 1979 uprising, when Nicaraguans
rebelled against the dictator, Anastasio Somoza. This day is no longer
an official holiday, but many people still celebrate it. |
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Did you know? |
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ceremony known as La Novena is observed in the nine days before
La Purísima. Many people make religious pilgrimages to the
basilica at the city of El Viejo. A unique ceremony called "the washing
of the plates" takes place on December 6, when a high church official washes
sacred silver church objects with lemon juice. |
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