Virgen de los Angeles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Virgen de los Angeles Day |
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Our Lady of the Angels at the main altar of the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles
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| Observed by | Costa Rica |
| Type | Historical |
| Significance | Celebration of Costa Rica's patron saint |
| Date | 2 August |
| Next time | 2 August 2025 |
| Frequency | annual |
The Virgen de los Angeles (Virgin of the Angels) is Costa Rica's patron saint, also known as La Negrita. Virgen de los Angeles Day is a Costa Rican holiday celebrating the Virgen.
Background
According to tradition, La Negrita, the Black Virgin, is a small (less than a meter tall), probably indigenous or mixed race, representation of the Virgin Mary found on 2 August 1635 by a native woman. As the story goes, when she tried to take the statuette with her, it miraculously reappeared twice back where she’d found it. The townspeople then built a shrine around her.
In 1824, the Virgin was declared Costa Rica’s patron saint. La Negrita now resides on a gold, jewel-studded platform at the main altar in the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles in Cartago. Each 2 August, on the anniversary of the statuette’s miraculous discovery, pilgrims from every corner of the country (and beyond) walk the 22 km from San José to the basilica. Many of the penitent complete the last few hundred meters of the pilgrimage on their knees. This basilica is equally visited by tourists and locals.
In 2014, a replica of the icon was enthroned in the Vatican City.
See also
In Spanish: Virgen de los Ángeles (Costa Rica) para niños
