El Viejo is ready to start traditional celebrations

Róger Solórzano Canales | Nov 21, 2013

The old and imposing Church of the Immaculate Conception at El Viejo, Chinandega, will son celebrate it’s December traditions in honor to Virgin of the Throne (Virgen del Trono). The main dates are December 5th, when a crowd of artists of the music and dance will perform the virgin serenade open to the public; in the morning of December 6th, will take place the massive tradition of ‘’la lavada de la plata’’, when hundreds of devotees gather to clean silver artifacts that during four centuries the virgin has received.

The activities were announced yesterday during a press conference in Managua. Artists like Norma Helena Gadea, Juan Solórzano, Ramón Rodríguez and Mario Sacasa were with the priest of El Viejo church Rodrígo Urbina, to present to the public the agenda of this year. There were also members of the organizer committee like Enrique Gasteazoro, who announced the participation of Johnny Meléndez, national musician who lived in the United States, who despite being one-armed plays his guitar with his feet.

Then, the virgin Serenade will take place on Thursday December 5th, starting from 7:30 pm. In addition to the artists mentioned before, there will also participate Ronald Abud Vivas and his Folckloric Ballet of Nicaragua, Camerata Bach, la Marimba Marcos Martínez, Elisa Picado, El Guadalupano, Baularte Group, Marlito Rocha, Katia Martinez and Jose Luis Argüello.

The next day, on December 6th, is the old tradition ‘’la lavada de la plata’’. The day will start with mass at 6:00 a.m. and from 10:00 a.m. will start the event where hundreds of devotees gathered to clean a large amount of silver objects that many generations of national and foreign families have left to the Virgin of the Throne.

The celebration ends with the traditional Griteria en many parts of the country, in the afternoon of December 7th, and finally the mass on December 8th which is the Virgin’s day worldwide.

Translated by Cynthia Cordero