Immaculate Conception Patron Saint Festival

Patron since the founding

The Immaculate Conception of Mary (Inmaculada Concepción) is the patron saint of El Tocuyo since the very day of its founding. When Juan de Carvajal founded the city on December 7, 1545, he named it "Nuestra Señora de la Pura y Limpia Concepción de El Tocuyo". The Marian patronage has been the official religious axis of the city for almost 480 years.

The date

The universal feast of the Immaculate Conception is December 8 —a date established by Pope Pius IX when he defined the dogma in 1854—. In El Tocuyo it has been celebrated since long before that dogmatic definition, but December 8 was consolidated as the official patron-saint festival in the 20th century.

It coincides with December 8, 1945, when the 4th Centenary of the founding was celebrated with special solemnity by decree of President Isaías Medina Angarita.

How it is celebrated

Novena

The nine days before (November 29 – December 7) the novena to the Inmaculada is prayed in the patron church and in many private homes. Each day has its specific Marian theme.

December 7 — Anniversary of the founding

Since El Tocuyo was founded on December 7, 1545, that date is celebrated as the civic anniversary: public events, raising of flags, solemn session of the Municipal Council.

December 8 — Patron-saint day

• Solemn Mass at 10 in the morning at the Inmaculada Concepción Cathedral (the new church, rebuilt after the 1950 earthquake and inaugurated in 1959).
• Blessing of the faithful, families, newborn children.
• Procession of the image of the Inmaculada through the streets of the center at dusk, with the municipal band, children dressed in white offering flowers, and a crowd singing the rosary and Marian hymns.
• Popular festivities in Plaza Bolívar: music, food, games for children, street vendors.

Traditional music

The aguinaldos (Christmas carols) to the Inmaculada are sung —Marian compositions of the region— and universal hymns such as:

• "Salve Reina y Madre".
• "La Concepción es triunfante" (traditional Lara hymn).
• Christmas aguinaldos (Christmas carols) that already begin to sound from December 8 onward.

Food

• Hallacas —the Christmas season is begun with communal hallaca-making sessions—.
• Pernil (roast pork leg), pan de jamón, papaya sweets.
• El Tocuyo bread and acemitas in abundance.

Symbolic importance

December 8 marks the effective beginning of the El Tocuyo Christmas season: from that date, nativity scenes are set up in homes, lights are turned on, hallacas are prepared and family members visiting from Caracas or other cities are welcomed.

For many people from El Tocuyo, December 8 is the true beginning of Christmas, even before Christmas Eve.

How to participate as a visitor

• Arrive on December 6 or 7 to attend both the civic anniversary (7) and the religious festival (8).
• Participate in the procession: bring a candle and accompany respectfully.
• Take time to visit the church during the morning of the 8th: it is open and beautifully decorated.
• Book lodging in advance: many people from El Tocuyo return to their homeland for this date and hotel availability shrinks.