January
Paradura del Niño (Mérida, 1st
– 2nd)
January 6, the day of Epiphany, the last of the twelve days of Christmas. The three kings ("Los Tres Reyes Magos"), receive wish letters from children
and magically bring them gifts on the night before Epiphany.
La Paradura del
Niño (The Parade of Baby Jesus) - Andes states of Táchira, Mérida, and
Trujillo, 6 January.
Feria Internacional de San Sebastián (San
Cristóbal, 7th – 30th
La Divina Pastora (Barquisimeto)
Fiesta de la Voz de Oro (Barquisimeto)
Santa Inés (Cumana, 22nd)
February
Feria del Sol (Mérida)
February 2, Virgin of La Candelaria day - popular day of faith, dances and cultural
activities, disguises, masks and bands.
Danceros de la Candelaria (Mérida)
Pre-Lenten Carnival (Carúpano)
Carnival (Mardi Gras)
reaches its finale on Tuesday. With the preceding Monday being granted
a holiday, most Venezuelans enjoy a 4 day weekend and choose to vacate
the city and head for the beach for this extra long weekend.
The Burial of the Sardine - Carnaval,
in most of the Spanish
speaking cultures has a ritual beginning and end. The burial of the
sardine (usually a symbolic doll) on Ash Wednesday marks the end of
Carnival.
March
Los Tambores de
Barlovento (The Drums of Barlovento) - Barlovento, Miranda state at the
beginning of the rainy season.
San José (Paraguachí, Margarita and
Maracay, 16th - 26th
Fiesta del Joropo (Elorza, Apure State, 19th)
| April
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| As a predominately Catholic country, Venezuela observes Holy Week (between
Palm Sunday and Easter). Many Venezuelans spend this week away at beaches
and other popular destinations. |
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Diablo Danzante in San Francisco de Yare on Corpus Christi's
Holy thursday |
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May
Velorio de la Cruz de Mayo - The cross of May. (Caracas and Carúpano, & many provincial towns,
3rd)
San Antonio del Táchira (San Antonio del Táchira,
13th - 20th)
San Isidro (Maracaibo and Mérida, 15th)
Los Diablos Danzantes (San Francisco de
Yare)
June Fiesta de San Juan (Curiepe, Miranda
State, 23rd)
Fiestas de La Virgen (La Asunción,
Margarita)
June
San Antonio (St. Anthony of Padua) is celebrated on or around June 13
Corpus Christi
Los Diablos de Yare - the main cities of the Federal District, Aragua state,
Miranda state, and Cojedes state
San Juan Bautista patron saint to many people on the central
Caribbean coast, who celebrate the Saint’s feast day from June 23 to June
25.
Feast of John the Baptist (June 24).
In Venezuela, the celebrations in honor of Saint John the Baptist have singular importance from the colonial
time to the present, mainly in those Afro-Venezuelan populations. The
pueblos around Caracas go wild to the beat of an African drum with
exuberant dancing, The feast runs through June and includes erotic
rites, purification rituals and divination.
Parranda de San Pedro takes place on June 29 in the town of Guatire.
July
Batalla de Matasiete (La Asunción,
Margarita, 31st)
August Fiesta del Orinoco (Cuidad Bolívar)
Feria de las Flores (Caripe, 2nd
– 12th)
Asunción de la Virgen (Carúpano 15th and
La Asunción, Margarita, 14th - 15th)
Virgin of El Carmen day (July 16). Masses, processions, and celebrations
in the Vargas state just east of Caracus
September
Fiesta de La Virgen de Coromoto (Guanare, 8th)
Fiesta de Nuestra Señora del Valle
(Margarita, 8th –15th)
October
Virgen del Rosario (Maracaibo, 5th)
Nuestra Señora del Pilar (Caripe, 10th
–12th)
(15km southeast of
Caracas) Popular performers gather in the town’s central square,
Plaza Bolívar and other venues, and perform folk, jazz and rock music
(Oct/Nov)Complejo Cultural Teresa Carreño (+1 582 574 9112).
November
Santos y Fideles Difuntos (Cumana, 2nd)
Feria de Valencia (Valencia, 15th
– 22nd)
Feria de la Chinita (Maracaibo, 18th)
Fair of the Chinese (November) in Maracaibo
December
Many businesses and commercial establishments close
from the December 24 to January 1, inclusive.
December 28 Feast of the Holy Innocents. The Catholic church
commemorates the 8th day of the birth of Jesus, with the death of the
Holy Innocents, in honor of the children assassinated by order of the
King Herod.
December 28 is also a day for pranks, equivalent to
April Fool's Day in many countries. Prank victims are called inocentes.
San Benito el Moro The feast of San Benito (St. Benedict the
Moor) is celebrated during Christmas week and New Year’s Day. San Benito
is the patron saint for the people around Lake Maracaibo. The music for
his feast, at year’s end, is performed by ensembles of chimbagueles. The
Saint appears as a black man, but with a Creole mixture of
characteristics. He is also associated with drinking rum, and with
appreciating beautiful women
Fiesta de la Zaragoza (Barquisimeto, 28th)
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