The first inhabitants are of Chorotega origin, whose language was Mangue, until the arrival of the Spanish. The subsoil of San Marcos keeps valuable memories of its history that are manifested in the form of monochrome and polychrome ceramic vessels, as well as rock engravings.
In 1820 this locality was recognized as a town, then in 1905 it was elevated to a town and its rank of city received it on March 1, 1916.
Artistic expressions and manifestations
Traditional dance
The little cow: According to history, its founder Manuel Escobar, alias "myth", was a tinsmith, fixed altars of purísimas, adjusted the church clock, in a certain way he was a versatile man or what would be called in these times "a utility" or in good Nicaraguan a cachimberboy.
It occurred to this gentleman to start this type of dance in 1951, and it all started when Inés Barberena, who went out hunting at night in search of jars, found the remains of a cow or bull that still had its horns, she threw them into a bag and on the way it occurred to him to take them to his friend "myth".
Possibly there the idea of the cow occurred to "myth", perhaps remembering that in Managua there was the dance of La vaquita in the celebrations of Santo Domingo. The father of "Mito" was the one who made the head of the cow out of wood. At that time, Mrs. María Molina was the steward of the San Marcos festivities.
Vaquita dance
Escobar together with his friend Carlitos Gutiérrez (peinerito) organized the dance. Among the dancers, well-known San Marqueños at that time are mentioned, such as: Fabián Aragón (quequisque) who came out as a man; Pablo Mercado (the duck) dressed as a woman; Domingo Jarquín (the garrobo) as a boy; Carlos Gutiérrez (comb comber) for women; Jaime Ortega, as a boy; José Tomás (Morocco) was old; José Mercado Molina (they called him the cow), was the sorter. Francisco Cerda (naked love) came out of death; Toño Matute (old face) and a Julio, nicknamed "Julio chayote".
As time went by, Escobar fell seriously ill, all the dancers came to visit him every night, and on one of those occasions his brother Santos Escobar asked him: Who are you going to leave the cow and all its ornaments to? Myth returned to see all his friends and said: "To Carlitos Gutiérrez." That is how he granted the rights of belonging to the cow to Carlitos who promised him that as a sign of mourning he would not take the dance.
Municipal dance of San Marcos
This dance took to the streets for the first time on April 24, 1950, with the purpose of making fun of wealthy families and giving more color and joy to the patron saint festivities of San Marcos and demonstrating the mischief of the residents.
A characteristic of the members of this dance was that they were strictly forbidden to remove their mask or costume in front of the audience, all this for reasons of respect; And the dancers were men -and it still is today-, since according to the founders, women were not accepted due to the respect they were had, although there are those who say that they met the only woman dancer of La vaquita in the 70s , Mrs. Aura Gómez (known as the black Gómez).
Legend Mona: For a long time in our municipality, the Monas Brujas have been protagonists of legends that our ancestors told us, they ran at great speed at night, from tree to tree or from house to house to harm people by surprise. . During their attacks, they made a ghastly, chilling noise that chilled the blood of their victims and left them paralyzed or speechless for the rest of their lives. Many are the inhabitants who today assure that they have been victims of the witch monkeys that usually do their misdeeds late at night.
Music
Fuzion 4, Las Águilas Norteñas, Grupo Sismo, Roger Molina and his dancers, Furia Musical, Puro Talento, Larry Hurtado and his melodic organ, Grupo Tormenta Musical and Banda La San Marqueña.
Philharmonic Bands
Divino Niño Band, Apparition Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic Band and La San Marqueña Philharmonic.
Musicians
Franklin Gutiérrez Barboza, group director Fuzion 4.
Roger Molina, owner and vocalist of the group Roger Molina and his dancers.
Manuel Romero Herrera, singer-songwriter.
Irvin García, musician and owner of Escuela Puro Talento.
José Emilio Reyes, bassist of the Camerata Bach and director of the musical group FAREM-Carazo.
Larry Hurtado and his melodic organ, musician and founder of the SM-70 group.
Marlon Hurtado, percussionist and owner of the group Tormenta Musical.
Jeziel Vásquez Bravo, bassist, member of the groups Tabú and Llama Viva.
Oliver Vásquez Meléndez, saxophonist, member of Grupo Fuerza and La Nueva Compañía.
Dance or dance groups
Folkloric Ballet Tapayasme (Entre Cañadas) formed in 2012 with more than 20 members.
Sapasmapa Land of Love Ballet, formed in 2016, with 20 members, and directed by Josué Lenin Dávila Rivera.
Janier Dance Studio, created by Zumba teacher and choreographer Janier Luquez in 2014, has more than 30 members. They are dedicated to varied dances and national folklore.
San Marcos Folkloric Ballet, formed in 2010 by the teacher and professional dancer Miguel Ángel Bermúdez. It has more than 40 members.
Painters
Wood crafts
Oil technique painters and muralists who are oriented to the themes of fruits, women and landscapes, in the municipality of San Marcos are: Guillermo Vivas, Marta Téllez and Javier Sánchez.
Jorge Herrera (painting and sculpture), Vivian Nissen (sacred art), Maynor Mercado Gómez (landscape painting, painting on cement and sand sculptures), Rosario Ortega (watercolorist), David Miranda (restorer and painter), Guillermo Vázquez (sculptor in recyclable materials) and Aracely Vásquez (painter).
Ismael Tercero recognized painter of San Marcos.
Sculptors
Noel Castillo Artola, "Castillo Sculptures" from the community of Fátima, makes cement and sand sculptures of various styles.
Craft trades
Cabinetmakers, who specialize in making wooden furniture and crafts, such as: Osmar Collado Espinoza, Donaldo Baltodano Puerto, Walter Galeano, Donald Fierro Raudales, Luis Emilio Hernández and Luis Felipe Blandón.
Legends
Carreta nagua and Chancha witch.
Local figures who have contributed to the history and culture of the town
Roberto Larios, founder of the SM70 group, currently invited to perform in remembrance music groups.
Carlos Hurtado (RIP), founder, author and owner of the SM70 group.
Other sites of historical and cultural interest
The Painted Hand Cave: Get to know this site by making a path of approximately half a kilometer from the entrance of the La Sahina farm, a place formed by two large rocks where it is believed that the indigenous people engraved their hands on them, some painted with ocher, you can see drawings of animals. Located in the San Pedro de los Molinos community.
Artisans
Collado Crafts: elaboration of wooden crafts such as: cups, spoons, trunks, jewelers, fruit bowls, etc. His workshop is located at the gate of the Carmelite Sisters 20 varas down in Villa Emerita and his exhibition module in the Plaza de la Cultura y Tradicion, located in the Old Train Station.Cre - ArteDiostala: costume jewelery, handicrafts and textiles. His workshop is located in the distribution of Belgium, first street, south side of Enacal and his exhibition module in the Plaza de la Cultura y Tradicion.
Coconut and Bamboo Crafts
Seed crafts from my town: manufacture of necklaces, bracelets in various types of seeds and ornaments in dry wood. His workshop is located from Aprodim 50 varas to the north, Villa Emerita and his exhibition module in the Plaza de la Cultura y Tradicion.
Wonderful Hands Crafts: crafts in foami, embossing, camba and fabrics. Workshop located from the municipal mayor's office 20 varas to the west.
Crafts Creations Camila: design of typical handmade dolls in rope and bamboo ornaments. The workshop is located from the main entrance to the new cemetery, 50 meters to the south, half a block to the east, its exhibition module in the Old San Marcos Railway Station.
Gomez Crafts: elaboration of jewelery and crafts in foami. It is located at the entrance of the Cristo Rey College one and a half blocks west.
Cris Cris Creations: textiles, crafts in foami and wood. The workshop is in Covisama I stage, house n ° 92.
Virtuous women crafts: manufacture of costume jewelery and key rings. Exhibition module in Plaza de Artesanías located in the Old Station.
Gallery
Tourist Offer Map