Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Diocesis de La Rioja
La Rioja (Agenzia Fides) – La Rioja is known for its rich popular religiosity, which reflects a combination of indigenous beliefs, colonial traditions and Christian elements. In other words, religious celebrations are not only influenced by Catholicism, but also reflect the cultural legacy of the native peoples, who have kept many of their traditions and rites alive over the centuries. “Often, these celebrations represent the link between indigenous spirituality and Christian beliefs,” explains to Fides Sister Silvia Somaré, missionary of the Sisters Slaves of the Heart of Jesus (ECJ) in La Rioja, and member of the Communications Office of the diocese. “Popular religiosity - she continues - is a distinctive feature of our land and of the identity of La Rioja.”
This religiosity is manifested mainly through various celebrations that connect the community with its faith, its history and its culture. Pope Benedict XVI himself, at the Shrine of Aparecida on May 13, 2007, stressed that popular religiosity is the diamond of Latin America. The feasts of La Rioja represent a space where the sacred and the everyday intertwine, creating a unique cultural identity. Respect for tradition, strong community participation and attention to customs are some of its distinctive features. These festivities are deeply rooted in the social life of the communities, centered on devotion to the patron saints, the Virgin Mary and the celebration of events that mark both the rural and urban calendar. “Hence,” explains Sister Silvia, “the syncretism, the fusion of indigenous beliefs with Catholicism. This mixture is reflected in the rituals, dances and traditions that symbolize the inhabitants' connection with their ancestral past and their current faith, as is observed mainly in Tinkunaco" (see Fides, 13/2/2025).
Numerous feasts are celebrated throughout the country, the core of which is the simple faith of the people, who live the celebrations of their saints and the Virgin in a festive way. It is no coincidence that La Rioja was founded in 1591 as the City of All Saints of Nueva Rioja.
Some especially celebrated anniversaries are those of Saint Nicholas of Bari, every December 6. The Saint known for his generosity, represents a symbol of hope and charity. As well as the festival of the Virgin of the Rosary of Tama, which takes place on the first weekend of October. On this occasion, the inhabitants of the town and its surroundings gather in an emotional procession to the church, where the Virgin of the Rosary is honored, who is considered the protector of the community.
During the feast, masses, cultural activities, dances and typical foods are celebrated, creating an atmosphere of joy and unity. The devotion to the Virgin of the Rosary is also manifested in the creation of altars and offerings that the faithful place along the way, an emblematic element of popular religiosity in the region.
Another very popular religious feast is that of Saint Rita de Chilecito celebrated on May 22, in honor of “the advocate of impossible cases.” The celebration begins with a novena, where the community gathers to pray and ask for the intercession of the saint. The faithful participate in an emotional procession that culminates with a mass, where testimonies of miracles attributed to Saint Rita are highlighted.
At Christmas, in the foothills of the Andes, in the area of Jagüe, the Virgin of Andacollo is celebrated where the miners venerate her and pay homage. And the same devotion is experienced in the area of Sanagasta for the Virgin of India. During Holy Week, a tradition of faith and art is celebrated in Famatina, where everything is deeply rooted in local faith and tradition. What distinguishes it from other commemorations is the presence of an articulated wooden Christ, a unique religious image that is central to processions and liturgical acts. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 3/3/2025)
