San Francisco de Cuapa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
San Francisco de Cuapa
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Municipality
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Piedra de Cuapa
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 San Francisco de Cuapa
Location in Nicaragua
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| Country |  Nicaragua |
| Department | Chontales Department |
| Area | |
| • Municipality | 107 sq mi (277 km2) |
| Population
(2005)
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| • Municipality | 5,507 |
| • Density | 51.49/sq mi (19.88/km2) |
| • Urban | 3,500 |
San Francisco de Cuapa (Spanish pronunciation: [saɱ fɾanˈsisko ðe ˈkwapa]) is a town and a municipality in the Chontales Department of Nicaragua. A municipality is like a local government area. This area was officially created on July 30, 1997. It is located in the northeast part of the Chontales Department. Before 1997, Cuapa was part of the larger municipality of Juigalpa.
The total area of San Francisco de Cuapa is about 277 square kilometers. The main ways people make a living here are through raising cattle and farming. Most of the people in Cuapa, about 99%, are Catholic. The first leaders of the municipality were Mayor Manuel Antonio Zelaya Meneses and Vice-Mayor Oscar Velasquez Gonzalez, who were elected in 1997.
Contents
The Story of the Virgin Mary's Apparition
In 1980, a man named Bernardo Martínez, who worked at the church, said he saw a series of visions of the Virgin Mary. He claimed this started on April 15 when he saw a strange light coming from a statue of the Virgin Mary inside the church.
Bernardo's Visions and Messages
In May, Bernardo said he saw the Virgin Mary while walking in the fields. He claimed she told him to pray the rosary, which is a special set of prayers, and to work for peace. She reportedly said: "Make Peace. Don't ask Our Lord for peace because, if you do not make it, there will be no peace."
At this time, Nicaragua was going through a difficult civil war. The government, led by the Sandinistas, was fighting against a group called the Contras. Bernardo Martínez also claimed that the Virgin Mary told him to burn "bad books." Some people thought this meant books with Marxist ideas, which were common at the time. The local Catholic Bishop agreed with this request.
Official Church Approval
On November 13, 1982, the Bishop of Juigalpa, who was in charge of the area, officially stated that the events were real and important for people of faith. This means that the visions in San Francisco de Cuapa are among the few Marian apparitions (visions of the Virgin Mary) that the Catholic Church has officially approved in the 20th century.
A Novel Inspired by the Events
In 2005, a writer named Silvio Sirias wrote a novel called Bernardo and the Virgin. This book tells a fictional story based on the real events that happened in Cuapa.
Exploring the Piedra de Cuapa
The Piedra de Cuapa, also known as the Monolith of Cuapa, is a very famous rock formation in San Francisco de Cuapa. It's a big, noticeable landmark in the area.
Local Legends of the Rock
According to old Nicaraguan folk tales, the Piedra de Cuapa is home to a duende. A duende is a magical, mischievous creature, sometimes like a goblin or a gnome. Some stories even say a whole family of duendes lives there! One popular legend tells of a duende who fell in love with a young woman named Flor. To get her attention, the duende supposedly stole her family's donkey and placed it right on top of the tall Piedra de Cuapa. The family eventually managed to make the duendes leave by playing very loud music.
Other Local Folklore
There are other interesting local stories in Cuapa too. One tale talks about a special tree that is said to shed tears from its branches every night at midnight. Another legend says that any man who bathes in a certain spot will end up marrying a woman from Cuapa and will never want to leave the area.
Images for kids
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Piedra de Cuapa, a famous rock formation.
See also
In Spanish: Cuapa para niños
