The land of lakes and volcanoes is dressed in colors and has a sweet taste in December, especially on the 7th, when Nicaraguans celebrate La Gritería in honor of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, a celebration that dates back to 1857, and that was born in the San Francisco Church of León, according to historical data.
It is a celebration that combines religion with the folkloric expressions of Nicaragua, uniting thousands of people, both Catholics and of other religions, in different parts of the country, on the eve of the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, patron saint of the country.
The city of León, being the birthplace of this tradition, annually receives hundreds of people who gather minutes before 6:00 pm, in the historic center, in the atrium of the Cathedral to respond to the cry of "Who causes so much joy?", pronounced by the bishop on duty, and witness the waste of gunpowder that is accompanied by drums, sirens, bells, bulls, the giantess and the big-headed dwarf, plus rhythms that characterize the city that Rubén Darío loved so much.
After the shout, families, tourists and visitors walk through the main streets of the city, stopping in front of houses decorated with altars. The “purisímeros” come to sing and receive the emblematic “gorras” or “brindis”, a mixture of cooked or raw foods, drinks, traditional sweets such as coconut cajeta, gofio, churros, as well as utensils and products for the kitchen.
But beyond a colorful celebration, La Gritería brings families together and is a time to share. Catalina Gonzáles, a Nicaraguan living in the United States, gathered in the living room of her house with her 84-year-old mother, children, siblings and nephews, says that she came from California and her nephew from Spain to celebrate La Purísima with her family, a tradition that was passed down through five generations.
He says that every year his family makes their altar to honor the mother of God, only with branches of the strawberry tree, the national tree, and in the center they place a wooden image of the Virgin of the Conception that is more than 100 years old, “It was inherited by my grandmother from her mother, and we still keep it today. It is a family heirloom.”.
María Salinas, a resident of the San Sebastián neighborhood, says that performing La Gritería is a demonstration of faith, love and sharing, something her family has been doing for more than 50 years.
At 76 years old, smiling, Mrs. Rafaela Morales says that she has been doing La Gritería for as long as she can remember; her altar, which took her two days to fix, is decorated with piñatas in the shape of dragons, branches and flowers of strawberry trees and candles. It has an image of the deceased bishop emeritus of León, Monsignor Bosco Vivas, whom she remembers at this time because of the closeness he had with her family.
La Gritería is also a celebration where young people, friends and couples get together to “shout,” like Cristhian Rodríguez, with a bucket in his hand and a backpack on his shoulders, says that he has participated in the Purísima for as long as he can remember. “It is a family moment and to continue growing in our faith in God and the Virgin”.
This festival, which is a symbol of love and brotherhood, is celebrated in every corner of Nicaragua, from the highest peaks of the Segovias and in the most remote communities of the Caribbean. La Gritería or Purísima comes annually to unite families and friends, and allows an entire town to share the little or much it has with others.
