La Griteria

One of the biggest celebrations of the year just took place yesterday, December 7th. They call this day La Griteria, or in my crudely translated Spanish, The Shouting. It celebrates the Virgin Mary on the day before the religious holiday celebrating the Conception of the Virgin Mary on December 8th.

I had been waiting to see what this holiday was like for a long time. For the past 3 months Nicas have been telling me, ´Youve never been here for the Griteria, its so alegre, so alegre. Its so happy´. I figured it was a good holiday, but its hard to get excited about a holiday that youve never seen and isn´t part of your tradition growing up. My neighbors and co-workers were anxiously awaiting this day but I was indifferent; I was just happy I was getting a half day off work to do some long needed clothes washing. But, after participating last night, I think this holiday won me over.

The holiday is similar to Halloween except that it celebrates the Virgin Mary instead of all things freaky and devilish. But the main idea is that kids and adults go around ´shouting´ to peoples houses that have an altar of the Virgin Mary set up and yell ´Quien causa tanta alegria? ´ which means, Who causes so much happiness? Then the person inside the house responds with ´La Concepcion de Maria´ or The Conception of the Virgin Mary. Then the people visiting the house start singing various songs praising the glory and sanctity of the Virgin Mary. As the visitors are singing, the people inside the house hand out presents to the people singing. These gifts can be anything such as candy, juices, laundry detergent, matches, whistles, plates, buckets, ice cream, firecrackers, or balloons. Really anything goes, and it obviously usually depends on how much money the family has. When a family gives out plates or buckets or ice cream there is usually a huge crowd outside the house, everyone shouting and singing. It can get kind of crazy!

I think I like it better than Halloween for a the folloing reasons. First, everyone participates, not just kids. Second, its not just candy, its random stuff. I received a hand sewn matchbox holder to hang on my wall, I never even knew they existed, and now I have one. What a nice surprise! Third, the timing of the holiday couldnt be better. Families giving out presents to whoever comes to their door all in the name of the Virgin Mary, it put me in the Christmas spirit!

Here is a website that talks a little bit more about the traditions of the holiday:
http://www.vianica.com/go/specials/8-december-celebrations-nicaragua.html

And here is a passage I found that apparently explains the history of the holiday:

The story goes that Bishop Monseñor Isidro Augusto Oviedo y Reyes made a promise to the Virgin Mary as he sought her protection from the violent eruptions of the Cerro Negro volcano in Leon, Nicaragua that occured from late July and early August of 1947. The volcano had been sending rivers of lava down its slopes and raining sand and ash down upon the streets of Leon with increasing fury for weeks. For her protection of the city, he promised that Leonesas would celebrate her assumption with city-wide processions every year on this day.

This celebration of penitence is also referred to as “Purísima de Penitencia” or “Virgin Mary of Penitence.” This particular day is unique to Leon while the rest of the nation (and Leon again) celebrates the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary on December 7th.

Here are some pictures of the La Griteria in Corinto:

The altar of the Virgin Mary a family friend put up.


Kids shouting and singing to the altar.


You cant see this well, but it is the central park in Corinto, complete with Xmas tree and Xmas lights.


Here are the family friends kids in front of the xmas tree. I went with them to go ´shouting´ as they call it.



This is one of the houses that gave out plates so there was a crowd in front.


Thats all I have for right now. Ill be heading home in less than 2 weeks, I hope to see people then!