2024-09-08 05:03:32
For more than 150 years, on the night of September 7, the streets of Ahuachapán form a sea of lights that decorate the main paths of Ahuachapán, Apaneca, Concepción de Ataco, Tacuba, San Francisco Menéndez, Atiquizaya and other surrounding districts, as a tradition that celebrates the day of the lanterns.
This commemoration originated in 1850, after a great earthquake that affected several areas of the country. Fear made the inhabitants go out into the street to sleep and light themselves with oil lamps, jocote bushes and candles, because at that time there was no electricity.
Since the date of the earthquake coincided with the eve of the birth of the Virgin Mary, the locals implored her protection and promised to hold a celebration every September 7 in her honor. Since then, lanterns made of wood and covered with cellophane paper of different colors are placed outside the houses, giving a picturesque atmosphere to the place.
This year, the celebration lasted all weekend until next Sunday, September 8. The procession with the image of the Virgin Mary took place this Saturday as detailed in the annual tradition.
This “shining tradition” not only maintains religious fervor, but also highlights the gastronomy of the districts that join the celebration. Therefore, restaurants, shops and businesses prepare with their illuminated altars and thus invite tourists who come from different parts of the country and the world to come and socialize.
The Ahuachapán Centro mayor’s office prepared various activities such as photo galleries, a philharmonic orchestra presentation, an opera concert, a gunpowder burning, and decoration of public spaces, among others. The church, for its part, held the procession, the solemn mass, the Holy Rosary, Marian songs, and the blessing of lanterns, among others.