The origins of the Celebrations of San Salvador date back to 1492, when Christopher Columbus discovered the New World. As a rule, he named the location after a saint whose feast day coincided with his arrival.
The Celebrations of San Salvador, also known as “Fiesta de San Salvador”, is a national holiday celebrated annually in El Salvador on August 6. Typically, it is accompanied by two regional holidays. The day is celebrated to honour El Salvador’s namesake, the Divine Saviour of the World. It is both a religious and secular celebration, as various events are conducted throughout the celebration period. On August 6, the most important religious celebration takes place with a procession carrying an image of Jesus Christ.
The origins of the Celebrations of San Salvador date back to 1492, when Christopher Columbus discovered the New World. As a rule, he named the location after a saint whose feast day coincided with his arrival. Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, and the Dominican Republic are examples of such locations.
As new lands were discovered in 1524, Conquistador Pedro de Alvarado conquered a new territory for Spain and named it after Jesus Christ. Province of our Lord Jesus Christ, Saviour of the World. It is not surprising that the name was shortened to ‘El Salvador,’ which means ‘The Saviour.’ The capital was subsequently christened San Salvador (Holy Saviour).
Along with the Spaniards came the tradition of Fiesta Patronales, in which cities celebrate with a festivity the feast day of the saint whose name they bear. The feast day of saints is typically on the date of their death, but in the case of El Salvador, Jesus’ death is already honoured on Easter Day, and His birth is covered by Christmas, so another day was chosen to celebrate His festival: Feast of the Transfiguration.
Jesus’ transfiguration was an event in which He became radiant with splendour, demonstrating His deity. The date of August 6 was chosen by Pope Callixtus III in 1456 to commemorate the end of the Siege of Belgrade, which had no specific date. Since the 16th century, the celebrations have included “the descent” (la bajada), in which a purple-clad wooden statue of Jesus is transported from the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Divine Saviour of the World.
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Visit San Salvador to experience the festivities in person. It would be a thrilling adventure.
San Salvador’s festivities are founded in both religious and secular beliefs. Celebrate the day by praying to the Divine Redeemer of the World and for the nation of El Salvador.
Celebrate the festival by raising awareness of it. In the end, the more, the better.
El Salvador is the tiniest of the Central American countries.
The most populous country in the Americas, San Salvador has nearly seven million inhabitants.
In social situations, Salvadorans only use their first names.
El Salvador is known as the “Land of Volcanoes” because its region contains more than 20 active volcanoes.
El Salvador is so hospitable that meals are served to visitors before anyone else.
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | August 6 | Sunday |
| 2024 | August 6 | Tuesday |
| 2025 | August 6 | Wednesday |
| 2026 | August 6 | Thursday |
| 2027 | August 6 | Friday |
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