Feast of Our Lady of the Angels
Our Lady of the Angels, Feast of
On August 2 each year the small black stone image of the Virgin rides through the streets in a religious procession from the basilica to the church of St. Nicholas, where it remains until the first Saturday of September. The entire route of the procession is decorated with carpets of flowers and colored sand, and there are floats depicting various religious scenes and events. At one time many worshippers used to follow the procession dressed as Indians with strange designs painted on their faces. Although they claimed that they were fulfilling a special vow to the Virgin, church authorities prohibited the practice in 1958 because it was regarded as pagan superstition. Instead, penitents must follow the route of the procession in bare feet while balancing heavy stones on their heads or shoulders.
Embassy of Costa Rica
2114 S St. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
202-234-2945; fax: 202-265-4795
www.costarica-embassy.org
FiestaTime-1965, p. 127