Each year on August 2nd, the people of Costa Rica celebrate Virgin of the Angels day with a spiritual gathering that is filled with emotion and dedication. The holiday is observed all throughout the country and people travel from miles around to take part in the annual festivities. Spending Virgin of the Angels day in Costa Rica is an experience like no other and those who get the chance to partake in the spiritual journey to the Basilica say that it is something they will never forget.
This holiday is dedicated to the patron saint of Costa Rica, La Negrita. According to the story, a girl from Cartago found a small black stone statue that was believed to be in the image of the Virgin Mary. The girl took the statue to a priest who stored it in a locked box. The next day, the statue was found back in its original location. A shrine was built around the statue which sits inside the Basilica de Nuestra Senora de los Angeles. People visit the alter to wash in the water that flows from the rock where the statue was found. They also bring small silver medals in the shape of body parts in hopes to be cured from ailments.
Virgin of the Angels day is a national holiday in Costa Rica and most will say that it is considered the third most important holiday after Christmas and Easter (Semana Santa). The majority of businesses close down for the day so that everyone has a chance to take part in the annual festivities. It has been reported that as many as two million pilgrims visit the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles on August 2nd. These individuals take part in the 10 mile religious pilgrimage from San Jose to Cartago where the Basilica is located, many crawling on their hands and knees as a symbol of dedication to the patron saint of Costa Rica.
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