What are the traditions of Managua, Nicaragua?

We have many traditions in Managua. One unique tradition we have is Holy Week. Managua is very empty during Holy Week and everyone waits for this, so they can take a vacation because by law, we have to observe Holy Week four days in a row. So it is the most expected week of the year in Managua. Holy Week is also one of the hottest week of the year, so people either go to the beach or to the mountains.

 

Managua also has a local holiday called Santo...

We have many traditions in Managua. One unique tradition we have is Holy Week. Managua is very empty during Holy Week and everyone waits for this, so they can take a vacation because by law, we have to observe Holy Week four days in a row. So it is the most expected week of the year in Managua. Holy Week is also one of the hottest week of the year, so people either go to the beach or to the mountains.

 

Managua also has a local holiday called Santo Domingo, which is celebrated every 1^st of August. Santo Domingo (pictured) is the local saint of Managua.  During Santo Domingo, we have a huge parade of horses with between 2,500 to 3,000 horses participating. It is a very big event here in Managua.

 

We celebrate La Purisima every 7^th of December. La Purisima is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and it is celebrated across the country of Nicaragua with a very high sense of religiosity. You will see thousands of houses with statues of the Virgin Mary and you will see people with their kids singing for the Virgin Mary from one place to another. In return, house owners give out candies, fruits, juices, water, etc. There are fireworks from noon to midnight inside and outside of Managua, which is very impressive.

We celebrate San Valentin (Valentine’s Day) every February 14th in Managua.  San Valentin is a nice day where families go out together and couples have dinners. Everybody does something to show how much they appreciate the people they love. Either the whole family goes out together or the young enamorados (lovers) go out to celebrate together. People send flowers at work. Nicaraguans are very expressive to the persons they love, so San Valentin is an important day.

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We celebrate San Valentin (Valentine’s Day) every February 14th in Managua.  San Valentin is a nice day where families go out together and couples have dinners. Everybody does something to show how much they appreciate the people they love. Either the whole family goes out together or the young enamorados (lovers) go out to celebrate together. People send flowers at work. Nicaraguans are very expressive to the persons they love, so San Valentin is an important day.

 

All the national holidays of Nicaragua are celebrated in Managua. Revolution Day is celebrated every 19th of July, which is a national holiday. The 1st and the 10th of August is a holiday in Managua for its patron saint, Santo Domingo. There is a procession from Las Cerritas on the hill outside of Managua on the 1st of August that ends at the church at the old center of town. The procession lasts a whole day. Many Nicaraguans join the procession. There is a procession of horses in the afternoon, which is called Hipica de Managua. The owners of horses go around a parade route. Many people come to see these horses perform exhibitions. There is another procession done every 10th of August to bring back the statue of the patron saint, Santo Domingo to the church on the hill.

 

The whole country celebrates Purisima, which is the celebration of the immaculate conception of Jesus Christ from the Virgin Mary.  Purisima is celebrated on the 7^th and the 8 ^th of December. The celebrations to honor to the Immaculate Conception of Mary start with the events in many homes and on the streets on the 7th of December in the evening and it is popularly called La Gritería.

 

( The Metroplitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, Managua, Pictured above.)

 

There are also several fairs before Christmas where people sell different kinds of handicrafts made by people from different parts of the country. This is a tradition where all the artisans come together to Managua to showcase their handicrafts in these special, organized fairs.

 

Another important holiday in Managua is Independence Day, which is celebrated every 15th of September. 

 

Easter week is also a big holiday in Managua and in Nicaragua as a whole. During Easter week, only a few companies like banks and supermarkets still work from Monday to Wednesday, but many offices are closed. There is no work for one whole week. Almost everybody leaves the city of Managua from Thursday to Sunday of the Easter week. People often go to the beaches or to the highlands to spend their vacation.

 

Labor Day is celebrated in Managua every 1st of May. It is celebrated by trade unions. It is a national holiday, so people do not go to work on Labor Day. The celebration is different every year. Labor Day is especially celebrated in Managua more than in other parts of Nicaragua because there are more workers and trade unions there, being the capital of the country.