Virgin of the Rosary
Feast of San Jerónimo: It is celebrated from September 30 to October 07. The image comes out in procession on September 30 at 07:00 in the morning; that day the dance of "Las viejas nalgonas" comes out, men disguised as women who wear immense colorful suits exaggerating their buttocks by the pillows, a Masaya-style mask and a pair of palm fans in each hand.
This festival is joined by the lonely male mouse, the gigantona and the little devils, becoming a kind of masquerade where mockery and dance prevail.
The music is of drum sounds, bow marimba and philharmonic. Patí, coconut bread, quequisque cake and yucca are distributed.
The tradition is said to be over 90 years old. The first image of San Jerónimo was brought by Pilar Obando and Guadalupe Suazo de Masaya, their first departure was on September 30, 1922.
Patronal feast in honor of the Virgen del Rosario: it takes place with a solemn mass and procession accompanied by “Las viejas nalgonas”, traditional dancers from San Jerónimo. The devil dance also participates. That day the octave of San Jerónimo is celebrated.
Local festivals or traditions
Creole Easter: For the Palm Sunday mass before Holy Week, the parishioners receive a palm twig in the shape of a cross blessed by the reverend or pastor of the church, to be placed in the houses. During Holy Week the Creole people go to church night after night, and it is not customary to visit spas, dance halls or bars.
On Good Friday mass is celebrated in the afternoon, and sometimes representations of the death of Jesus are made. For this mass the parishioners usually dress in black, purple or white, as a way of honoring the death of Jesus. After the mass, which ends at around 04:00 in the afternoon, there is a meal that always includes fish, shellfish and syrup, in addition to the traditional bun (sweet bread).
It is also customary to visit relatives and friends, who usually also offer such delicacies.
May pole party (palo de mayo): takes place over 18 days spread over the month of May.
Different activities are developed, starting on the last day of April to May 31, such as the tourist fair, conferences about the origin of the May pole celebration, generational cultural meetings, gastronomic fair, traditional parade of comparsas, cayuco competitions, celebration of the tululu and more.
All include the performance of may pole dances. In the neighborhoods there are competitions for the best may pole, scheduled with date and time. It is a festival of pure traditional dance; The neighborhoods that are targeted are El Canal, Old Bank, Teodoro Martínez, Pionteen, Loma Fresca sector 1, Pancasan, Fátima, El Bluff, Punta Fría, Loma Fresca sector 2, New York, Santa Rosa, San Mateo, Ricardo Morales and San Peter.
Traditionally, the celebration of the Maypole ends on the 31st, in the early hours of the morning with the tululu and its tour throughout the city.
Virgin of Fatima: honored on May 13.
May Festivities Now
Harvest Festival: This religious tradition is celebrated in November in the various Moravian, Anglican and Baptist churches.
The parishioners bring to the church the best products of their harvest or of their own elaboration: fruits, vegetables, baked goods, clothes, crafts, crafts, and others, as a token of appreciation for the blessings received during the year.
It is also customary to decorate the churches with the products of the land: palms, canes, coconuts, bananas ... the production is blessed at mass, and the next day, starting at 05:00 in the morning, it is put on sale on the church grounds.
Set-Up (wakes): This is the name given to the set of traditions and funeral rites of the Creole people.
It consists of a set of activities that are traditionally carried out to ensure the preparation of the corpse, the candle, the songs, the funeral procession, the funeral, the mourning and the nine days. Each of these steps has a special meaning.
Solidarity and mutual respect are central elements highlighted and longed for by the cultural bearers of tradition. The traditional Set Up is also called Nine Night. It is celebrated on the ninth day and ends the funeral rites.
At 12:00 at night there is a celebration in the room where the deceased was called “Turn up the matres” which consists of lifting the mattress and turning it over. As two women sing, they take the white sheets and fold them, take off the covers and curtains and fold them. Everything is placed in the center of the bed.
Other traditions are the harvest day of the Creole and Rama peoples, as well as the shuda (manatee hunting ritual) of the Rama people.
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