Fun and festivities in Nicaragua - celebrations, festivals and cultural events

Nicaragua is not a well-known country for many tourists. Perhaps, not everyone can even tell the location of Nicaragua correctly – some might think that this is an African country. When it comes to the culture of Nicaragua, it is a mystery for many foreigners. Nevertheless, this country has a rich history: the pirate times, the epoch of conquistadors, life before the arrival of Columbus, and numerous American Indian tribes that have their roots in the Incan and Aztec civilizations. Nicaraguans are proud of their history and love telling more about their home towns. They like holidays and enjoy celebrating them in an energetic, southern way. Local people are friendly and hospitable; they like guests and try to prepare the best food for them even if they have very little money left.

Nicaragua is a religious country. Catholicism is a major religion here, so there are many religious holidays in the country. An interesting fact: every settlement, both towns and villages, has a patron saint. The country has a special day called Fiesta Patronal when people praise their patron saints. Even small villages organize celebrations on this day, dedicating them to their saints. Not only church gatherings happen on this day but also costume shows and theatrical plays that show different scenes from the life of the patron saint. Local saints also have tasks on this day. For example, a saint from one settlement can go to a saint from the nearby settlement to congratulate him or her. No one plays the roles of the saints. People make dolls, big dolls that are often human-sized, dress them in ceremonial clothing, and use during the holiday.

The meeting place is revealed beforehand. When the saints meet, people go to the church for the feast rite. Such processions usually take place before Easter. Dancing and singing are essential parts of every celebration. All participants try to put on festive clothes. Creative people make costumes, finding inspiration in different historic epochs. The most active participants and people in the best costumes get free rum. Visit Nicaragua in March – April, close to Easter, to participate in this amazing holiday. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

How do local people celebrate New Year in Nicaragua? First of all, this is a family holiday. For many people, New Year is a winter holiday, and it is hard to understand that some countries celebrate it with summer weather. It is hot outside, there is no snow. People decorate artificial Christmas trees though. The weather is usually +30°C and higher at this time of the year in Central America. Ano Viejo is an essential attribute of any New Year celebration in Nicaragua. This is a straw scarecrow dressed in male clothes. Viejo is filled with straw and has gloves instead of hands. The head is also filled with straw and has painted eyes, nose, and mouth. It is not necessary to make Viejo because the scarecrows are sold in local shops.

Each family buys or makes Ano Viejo and puts a plate with the list of things that they want to get rid of and the list of wishes for a new year. At midnight, people burn their Ano Viejo as a symbol of the old year. As everyone goes outside to celebrate, the streets become filled with dancing and screaming people. This ceremony of burning the straw man is a symbol of a new start.

“Loud” is the best word to describe local parties. Loudness is something like a symbol of quality. If neighbors have a louder party, this means that their party is funnier. “Loud” is often a synonym of “awesome” in Nicaragua. If people cannot hear each other, this means that the celebration is great. The Music & Youth Festival, which takes place in Managua every February, is a fantastic event that is loud and exciting at the same time. Live music is never altered or amplified, so this is the right festival for all fans of quality music.

Masaya also offers a range of interesting annual events. One of them – the festival of flowers – is a colorful event that brings together music and beauty. La Fiesta de los Aguizotes or the Aguizotes Festival (October) is the time when scary stories come alive. Participants put on masks skillfully made by the Monibmo people. These are the masks of demons and different gods from American Indian mythology. For tourists, this is an amazing opportunity to buy quality artisan products because local craftsmen always prepare for this celebration. It doesn’t matter when you decide to visit Nicaragua, you are likely to see the performances of local folk bands every Wednesday.

Granada hosts the International Bird Festival every November. This event brings together ornithologists from all countries in Central America and beyond, as well as representatives of national parks and reserves. The festival is suitable for foreign tourists because its schedule always includes events for regular visitors, not only industry professionals. Photograph exhibitions, master classes, bird watching excursions to Mombacho and Zapatera have become an essential part of the event. The International Bird Festival is a fantastic opportunity to find out something new about each of the 500 bird species that live in the country and familiarize oneself with the 200 species of migratory birds.