Every year on September 30, Nicaragua celebrates Fiesta de San Jerónimo. Saint Jerome, the Patron Saint of Libraries and the most revered saint in Masaya, the cultural center of Nicaragua, is honored with a nearly two-month-long festival that begins on the eve of the celebration.
The background of Fiesta de San Jerónimo in Nicaragua
Fiesta de San Jerónimo is a 200-year-old celebration held by Masaya’s natives. The majordomo arrives at the church on August 15 to request permission for the celebration, which sets off preparations for the observation. Commemorating the people’s faith through public demonstrations and processions in the name of fraternity, the official celebrations begin on the anniversary of Saint’s descent, which falls on September 20 each year, and continue until October 7.
The city celebrates the event with tremendous enthusiasm. Roads and public spaces are decorated with garlands, and thousands of devotees participate in the annual procession honoring their patron saint. The festivity concludes with a parade of Masaya’s native tribes.
Fiesta de San Jerónimo celebrations last for months and are the most important ceremony for Nicaraguans. It is the largest event in Masaya and a significant contributor to tourism and economic activity in the region. On the eve of the festival, the Santa Maria Magdalena Parish in Masaya conducts a mass, followed by a procession in which devotees carry the statue of Saint Jerome.
The streets of the city are flooded with a fever of joy and ethnic uncertainty. Attendees of the parade wear traditional garb and perform the Mayasa dance known as “Los Diablitos.” Every Sunday in October and November, participants congregate to display their costumes to domestic and international tourists. Fiesta de San Jerónimo also commemorates the country’s indigenous culture.
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FIESTA DE SAN JERNIMO ACTIVITIES IN NICARAGUA
Attend church
Saint Jerome is responsible for the Latin translation of the Bible, which serves as the foundation for the English version. On the eve of the saint’s holiday, attend mass and convey your gratitude to him.
Enjoy a day off.
Take a day off from work and spend it in a social setting or with your community to get into the holiday atmosphere. Celebrate with your family and colleagues.
Cook a Nicaraguan feast.
Fiesta de San Jerónimo is an excellent opportunity to appreciate the culture and traditions of Nicaragua, such as the delicious local dishes ‘chicheo,’ ‘cususa’ (fermented corn), ‘angel chicha,’ and ‘chicha of coyol.’
5 Enchanting Facts About Saint Jerome, MASAYA’s Patron
Saint Jerome resided in Rome and assisted Pope Saint Damase in his administrative duties.
His complete name in Latin is Eusebius Hieronymus.
Saint Jerome is regarded as the most erudite Latin patriarch of his era.
Saint Jerome was fluent in Italian, Aramaic, Latin, Hebrew, and Greek, and he spread the Old Testament in all five of these languages.
Saint Jerome founded a papal library in Rome and revised the “New Testament” to create a standard Latin text of the “Bible.”
FIESTA DE SAN JERÓNIMO IN NICARAGUA DATES
Year | Date | Day |
---|---|---|
2023 | September 30 | Saturday |
2024 | September 30 | Monday |
2025 | September 30 | Tuesday |
2026 | September 30 | Wednesday |
2027 | September 30 | Thursday |