Every year, on August 2nd, Costa Rica embraces its catholic roots and begins one of the most impressive acts of faith I have ever seen in my life: La Romeria. People from all over the place and even other countries nearby walk from their homes towards La Basilica de Los Angeles located in Cartago to pay tribute, thank or ask for favors to the Virgin Mary or La Negrita, as they have nicknamed her.
The story begins in the year 1635 when a young Indian girl named Juana Pereira left her house to pick up wood and run chores. While she was walking in the woods, she found a small stone figurine that look like the Virgin Mary. She picked it up and took it home. The next day, she found it again and when she went back home she noticed “the one she picked up the day before” was gone. This continued happening for a few days so she spoke to the local priest who confirmed Juana’s story. Costa Rica is in fact a very religious country, so the priest, understanding that what the Virgin wanted was to live there where Juana found her started building a church in her honor, which is now the beautiful Basilica de los Angeles.
This act of faith proves that Costa Rica traditions do cover a huge variety of topics and it very interesting to experience how close everyone in the country is to their beliefs, how strong minded they are about keeping their roots and the power of faith that holds Costa Rica. Highways have been full the past few days because of all the Romero’s walking towards Cartago. Costa Rica celebrates this special date every year and lots of activities take place in the church surroundings. One of my favorites is the dressing of the Virgen de los Angeles: during the year, lots of dress makers from all over Costa Rica send in a specially design dress for the small figurine and one is selected as the most beautiful one and she wears it during the official Mass on August 2nd.
If you are in Costa Rica right now and were planning on driving through any of the main highways, be careful with the Romeros, move aside and let them through and be aware that some main roads near the Cartago area will be closed today after 2:00 PM.
