Immaculate Conception Day is a significant holiday in Nicaragua celebrated annually on December 8, honoring the Catholic belief of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. This holiday, also known as La Purísima or La Gritería, is one of the most important and widely celebrated festivals in the country. The day is marked by a public holiday where commercial businesses and schools close down, and a variety of traditions and customs are practiced.
The main tradition of the holiday is the shouting or 'grito' for which the festival is named. At exactly 6 o'clock on the evening of December 7th, the people of Nicaragua shout in unison, '¿Quién causa tanta alegría?' ('Who causes so much joy?'), to which the response is '¡La Concepción de María!' ('The conception of Mary!'). This kick starts the festivities that last through the night until the morning of the 8th. Houses are beautifully decorated with altars dedicated to the Virgin Mary and filled with fruits, traditional meals, drinks and candies to be shared with the visitors.
Apart from the festive shouts, processions, and house visits, joyous activities like singing hymns and carols, setting off fireworks mark the day. Neighborhoods are filled with the loud choruses of prayers and the crackle of colourful fireworks lighting up the night sky. In towns and cities throughout Nicaragua, the feast is a grand celebration of faith, devotion, and community cohesiveness. The holiday embodies the deeply rooted Catholic faith in the country, reflecting the cultural and religious identity of its people.