La Griteria’: Nicaraguans celebrate tradition in Miami
As she extended her hand to receive a handful of “leche burra” (traditional candy from Nicaragua), Stephanie Tablada, a Miami resident of Nicaraguan descent, headed over from one altar to the other to sing to the Virgin Mary. Tablada is not the only person to chant and pray to the Virgin Mary, as she and countless of other people in Miami celebrated “La Griteria,” a holy tradition from Nicaragua that takes place every December 7th. SEE ALSO: Feast of the Immaculate Conception kicks off Christmas holiday “Since I wasn’t born in Nicaragua, I like to think of this as a way to keep my country’s tradition alive,” said Tablada, 27. “I hope to one day bring my children to these.” “La Griteria” is a Nicaraguan holiday that honors the Immaculate Conception of Mary every seventh of December. On the eve of the Catholic feast, devotees walk the streets and visit different altars in temples and homes to sing and pray to the Virgin Mary. When in front of an altar, people say “quien causa tanta alegria?” (who causes so much joy?) and the person inside the home or temple responds “la Concepcion de Maria!” (the conception of Mary). “La gorra” (goodie bags) is then handed to the devotees chanting outside. “La gorra” can be anything from candy, food and more. “My favorite thing about celebrating purisimas in Miami is ‘la gorra,'” Tablada said. “It’s so awesome to try the food, drinks and desserts that I get from all the altars.” Originated in 1857 in Leon, Nicaragua and also known as “La Purisima,” the religious festival is celebrated in every town of the Central American country. It’s also practiced in the U.S., where many Nicaraguans reside, primarily Miami, Fla. “One of my favorite things is that it unites family and friends with the same Catholic belief,” Gabriela Altamirano, 38, said. “It’s a fun ambience with religious chants for the Virgen Mary.” Born in Nicaragua, Alramirano has been living in Miami since she was 10 years old. Now she’s passing on the tradition to her 7-year-old daughter who was born in the U.S. SEE ALSO: Fritanga: An exclusive taste of Nicaraguan food “‘La Griteria’ is very important for me because my family continues to grow with Catholic values, and it helps us to know God and his mother,” she said. Like Tablada and Altamirano, the tradition of “La Griteria” or “La Purisima” holds a special spot in the hearts of many Nicaraguans living in the exterior. The post ‘La Griteria': Nicaraguans celebrate tradition in Miami appeared first on Voxxi.
As she extended her hand to receive a handful of “leche burra” (traditional candy from Nicaragua), Stephanie Tablada, a Miami resident of Nicaraguan descent, headed over from one altar to the other to sing to the Virgin Mary.
Tablada is not the only person to chant and pray to the Virgin Mary, as she and countless of other people in Miami celebrated “La Griteria,” a holy tradition from Nicaragua that takes place every December 7th.
SEE ALSO: Feast of the Immaculate Conception kicks off Christmas holiday
“Since I wasn’t born in Nicaragua, I like to think of this as a way to keep my country’s tradition alive,” said Tablada, 27. “I hope to one day bring my children to these.”
“La Griteria” is a Nicaraguan holiday that honors the Immaculate Conception of Mary every seventh of December. On the eve of the Catholic feast, devotees walk the streets and visit different altars in temples and homes to sing and pray to the Virgin Mary.
When in front of an altar, people say “quien causa tanta alegria?” (who causes so much joy?) and the person inside the home or temple responds “la Concepcion de Maria!” (the conception of Mary). “La gorra” (goodie bags) is then handed to the devotees chanting outside. “La gorra” can be anything from candy, food and more.
“My favorite thing about celebrating purisimas in Miami is ‘la gorra,’” Tablada said. “It’s so awesome to try the food, drinks and desserts that I get from all the altars.”
Originated in 1857 in Leon, Nicaragua and also known as “La Purisima,” the religious festival is celebrated in every town of the Central American country. It’s also practiced in the U.S., where many Nicaraguans reside, primarily Miami, Fla.
“One of my favorite things is that it unites family and friends with the same Catholic belief,” Gabriela Altamirano, 38, said. “It’s a fun ambience with religious chants for the Virgen Mary.”
Born in Nicaragua, Alramirano has been living in Miami since she was 10 years old. Now she’s passing on the tradition to her 7-year-old daughter who was born in the U.S.
SEE ALSO: Fritanga: An exclusive taste of Nicaraguan food
“‘La Griteria’ is very important for me because my family continues to grow with Catholic values, and it helps us to know God and his mother,” she said.
Like Tablada and Altamirano, the tradition of “La Griteria” or “La Purisima” holds a special spot in the hearts of many Nicaraguans living in the exterior.
The post ‘La Griteria’: Nicaraguans celebrate tradition in Miami appeared first on Voxxi.
