Festivities and traditions of El Tocuyo
The ritual calendar of the Mother City: from the Tamunangue of June 13 to the May Cross Vigils, including Holy Week, Burriquita and Paradura del Niño.
The Tocuyo calendar combines colonial Catholic heritage, the indigenous Jirajaras roots and the African contribution from the enslaved people of the sugar mills. Every month has its rituals, its foods, its music and its reasons. Here is the detailed guide to the main festivities of Morán Municipality.
May Cross Vigils (Velorios de Cruz de Mayo)
Religious and agricultural tradition of colonial origin. A cross adorned with flowers, fruits and ribbons is kept vigil all night with songs of décimas (ten-line stanzas) and galerones (long sung verses) to pray for good harvests. In El Tocuyo it is celebrated especially in the El Calvario sector.
View detail March–AprilTocuyo Holy Week
The major week of the El Tocuyo religious calendar: Palm Sunday procession, Good Friday Stations of the Cross, Holy Sepulcher and Holy Saturday. Tradition of visiting the seven churches.
View detail Holy SaturdayBurning of Judas (Quema de Judas)
Popular Holy Saturday tradition. A doll representing Judas Iscariot —sometimes portrayed as an unpopular figure of the year— is burned with firecrackers in plazas and streets, accompanied by the reading of a satirical "testament".
View detail VariableLa Burriquita
Pantomime dance of Spanish origin that arrived via Cubagua. The dancer wears a little donkey structure tied to the body and sings mischievous verses to the rhythm of the cuatro (Venezuelan four-string guitar) and maracas. National Cultural Heritage since 2016.
View detail December 8Immaculate Conception Patron Saint Festival
Patron saint festival of El Tocuyo since its founding in 1545. The city was named "Nuestra Señora de la Pura y Limpia Concepción del Tocuyo". Solemn mass, procession of the image and popular festivities in the historic center.
View detail June 13Saint Anthony's Feast and Tamunangue
The most important festival in El Tocuyo. Solemn mass, procession of San Antonio de Padua and ritual performance of the 8 sones of the Tamunangue. National Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2014.
View detail JanuaryParadura del Niño (Standing of the Christ Child)
Catholic tradition celebrating the moment when the Christ Child of the nativity scene stands up. Praying of the rosary, walking the image around the house, songs to the Child and serving of bizcochuelo (sponge cake) and wine at the end.
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