Festivals in Nicaragua

If you want to get to know the local culture in Nicaragua, check out these famous festivals.

Those who are in the country in December will be lucky enough to witness La Purisima and La Griteria. First, families build altars in their homes to honor the Virgin Mary, and then, on Dec. 8, they take to the streets to shout and sing, visiting their friends and neighbors to exchange sweets and food.

Another religious festival is La Judea, which takes place in various places across the country. The celebrations in Masatepe are thought to be the biggest and best, when the whole town has to search high and low for one person who represents Judas. When they are discovered, they are paraded through town in chains and then hung in the main square.

Alongside the religious festivals, horses are a popular cause for celebration in Nicaragua. On Aug. 1 and Aug. 10, the Nicaraguan capital of Managua comes alive with beautiful horses paraded through town, while Granada has its own horse fair Jan. 5–9. This one focuses on thoroughbred Spanish horses, and takes place at the city jockey club.

Other good festivals include Palo de Mayo in Bluefields, which runs for the whole of May; the Rio San Juan Carnival in San Carlos Jan. 15–21; and the Latin American Surfing Competition at the end of November in San Juan del Sur.