Purisima festival
Purisima or Virgin Mary Immaculate Conception Day is Nicaragua's main Catholic holiday. And since the majority of the population are Catholics, it is celebrated throughout the country. The Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary is a day off. The celebration begins on the seventh and lasts until the eighth of December.
The festivities are held in the city of Leone, which is considered the intellectual center of Nicaragua. The festival includes some ceremonies.
Leon city on the eve of Purisima festival.
Early morning on the day of Purisima celebration - a procession with the image of the Virgin Mary around the Leon Cathedral.
On the evening of December seventh, people gather in the square in front of Leon Cathedral.
Giganton dolls ready for the holiday.
The main solemn event - the festive mass - takes place on the evening of December seventh in Leon Cathedral.
At the end of the Mass, celebration continues in the square in front of the cathedral, where many people gather. These are residents of Leon, guests and specially arrived for the holiday from other regions of the country.
Three-meter dancing giant dolls are active participants.
And in the evening, the entire city center turns into a place of distribution of gifts - such a tradition of Purishima celebration! The Institute of Tourism of Nicaragua is building a whole town of small pavilions, each of which give different inexpensive gifts. The entrance to this town is built, almost in the morning, a huge line, several blocks long. When people start to let in, even a small crush occurs. But, all people are very festive and friendly.
The line flows along many tents, each of which gives its own souvenirs.
Owners of small companies and private houses also give gifts to people passing through lattice doors or windows.
In many houses you can see the festively decorated altar of the Virgin Mary.
As gifts give out fruits, traditional sweets, caramel, drinks, sugarcane and much more.
Festivities end late at night.
The day after day of Purishima is also festive. On the streets of Leon, you can see the processions with the image of the Virgin Mary, organized by various churches of the city. Such processions are accompanied by the launch of firecrackers and fireworks, the performance of musical groups.
The processions with the image of the Virgin Mary.
In the evening – a procession around the main cathedral - Leon Cathedral
The dance tradition of Gigantona (La Gigantona) appeared during the colonization of Nicaragua and, in fact, ridicules the Spaniards. A huge three-meter dancing doll depicts a Spanish woman, and a large-headed gnome – an Indian, small, but very smart. The Giganton competition is held annually in Leon during the days of the Purisima holiday and arouse truly great interest among the public.
Competitors prepare to speak.
Each group of participants in the competition is doll-dancers, and musicians, and accompaniment. And also, in each group there is a special participant who accompanies the performance with humorous conversations or conversations on the topic of the day.
The competition is judged by a special jury.
The audience is very active in supporting the contestants.
