El Cisne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
El Cisne
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 El Cisne
Location in Ecuador
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| Country |  Ecuador |
| Province | Loja |
| Canton | Loja |
| Elevation | 2,440 m (8,010 ft) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 1,532 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (NAET) |
| Climate | Cwb |
El Cisne is a small but important city in southern Ecuador. It is located in the Loja province, about 74 kilometers (or 46 miles) away from the larger city of Loja.
People mostly know El Cisne because it is home to a very special church called the Marian National Shrine of Our Lady of El Cisne. This shrine attracts many visitors each year.
Contents
The Story of El Cisne
How the Famous Statue Was Made
Long ago, the people living in the El Cisne area wished for their own special statue of the Virgin Mary. They wanted one similar to the famous Virgin of Guadalupe in Mexico City.
So, in 1594, representatives from the city asked a talented sculptor named Don Diego de Robles to create a statue. He carved the beautiful Virgin de El Cisne statue from the wood of a cedar tree.
The Annual Pilgrimage
Every year, on August 17, thousands of people gather in El Cisne. These people are called pilgrims, which means they travel to a holy place for religious reasons.
The pilgrims come to carry the Virgin Mary statue in a special religious parade. They take the statue all the way to the cathedral in Loja. There, a big festival is held on September 8 to honor the statue. After the festival, the statue is carefully returned to its home in El Cisne.
Images for kids
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The Marian National Shrine of Our Lady of El Cisne
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The altar inside the Marian National Shrine of Our Lady of El Cisne, with the icon of the virgin in the center.
See also
In Spanish: El Cisne (parroquia de Loja) para niños
