RELIGIOUS BELIEFS and TRADITIONS
The story of Our Lady de Altagracia dates back to when Spain first colonized the island of Hispanola. Two men, Alonso y Antonio de Trejo, brought a painting of the Virgin to Hispanola from their home in Placencia, in the region of Extremadura in 1502.
The legend states that the image of the Virgin mysteriously disappeared from the house of the brothers Trejo. The painting later reappeared in an orange bush. The location of this bush is where the first church of Higuey was built. Now thousands of devoted visitors make the trek here to deposit offerings and to ask favors of the Mother of Christ. Dominicans pray to her for miracles and cures and for intercession for whatever troubles them. Las Noches de Vela/ the Nights of Prayer is celebrated the night before Altagracia day.
The painting (shown here) of the patron saint of Dominican Republic that is found in the Basilica in Higuey (see the
picture slide show or the Basilica) is said to have been painted in the late 15th century in Spain. It was mysteriously delivered by a shrouded old man who dropped the painting and disappeared. This painting shows the scene of the birth of Jesus. The frame is made from Dominican gold and inlaid with fine enamels, precious stones and jewels. The painting has been completely restored.
used by permission torrens and fenton
Virgen de la Altagracia/ Virgin of the Highest Grace
Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia, Patrona de La República Dominicana
The country's official patron saint and Queen Protector of the heart of Dominicans.
Fiestas Patronales de la República Dominicana/ Celebrations of the Patron Saints of Dominican Republic
Patronales/ Patron Saints. Every town and village in Dominican Republic has it's own patron saint. Each town has a celebration for their saint. These celebrations usually cover an entire weekend or more with a party, music and just getting together of the towns inhabitants in the local park of gathering area. It is a time of sharing with the neighbors and another excuse for having a party. Not that Dominicans need an excuse to have a get together or a good time....
2 Virgen de la Candelaria patron saint of San Carlos, in Santo Domingo and Sabana Grande de Boyá.
11 Nuestra Señora de Lourdes patron saint of Peralta in Azua
16 San Elías Barón del Cementerio/ The Barron of the Cemerary.
1 San José Obrero celebrated in Villa Jaragua(Prov. Bahoruco) and Ensanche Ozama(Santo Domingo)
3 San Felipe Apostol patron saint of Puerto Plata.
13 Nuestra Señora de Fátima celebrated in Villa Sinda(Prov. Montecristi), Galván Prov. Bahoruco), Arenoso(Prov. Duarte) and Hondo Valle(Prov. Samaná).
15 San Isidro el Labrador celebrated in Castillo(Prov. Duarte), Luperón(Puerto PLata), Las Caobas(Santiago Rodríguez), CLavelLina y Uvilla(Prov. Bahoruco), EL Llano(Elías Piña), Santé y La Enea(Prov. La Altagracia).
18(?) Santa Rita de Casia celebrated in Juan Barón(Prov.of San Cristóbal), Sabana Perdida(Santo Domingo)
30 San Fernando Rey patron saint of Montecristi.
11 San Bernabé patron saint of Villa Mella.
13 San Antonio de Padua patron saint of Bonao(Prov. Monseñor Nouel), Guerra(Prov. Monte Plata), La Victoria(Santo Domingo), Villa Rivas(Prov. Duarte), Monción(Prov. Santiago Rodríguez), Miches(Prov. El Seibo)
22 Corazón de María patron saint of Chaquey Abajo in Cotuí
29 San Pedro y San Pablo patron saint of San Pedro de Macorís; Las Salinas(Prov. Barahona) El Cercado(Prov. San Juan de la Maguana), Fundación de Peravia(Prov.Peravia).
30 San Pablo Apóstol patron saint celebration in Villa González
4 Santa Isabel patron saint of La Isabela in Puerto Plata
16 Nuestra Señora del Carmen patron saint of Jarabacoa, Padre las Casas(Azua), El Palmar in Bahoruco, Trinitario(Dajabón), Castillo(San Francisco de Macorís), Gaspar Hernández, José Contreras y Cayetano Germosén(Moca), Duvergé(Jimaní), Los Almácigos(Santiago Rodríguez), Honduras y Majagual(Samaná) and Platanal(Cotuí)
25 Santiago Apóstol patron saint of Santigo de los Caballeros, and Paya(Baní)
26 Santa Ana patron saint of San Francisco de Macorís(Navarrete)
2 Nuestra Señora de los Angeles. patron saint of Atabalero(San Francisco de Macorís)
5 San Juan María de Vianés.patron saint of Matanza(Peravia)
10 San Lorenzo.patron saint of Guayubín(Montecristi) and the town of San Lorenzo de los Mina.
11 Santa Filomena patron saint of Rinconcito(Estrella)
13 Fiesta de los Toros patron saint of Santana(Higuey)
15 Nuestra Señora de Agua Santa patron saint of Sabana Grande of Boyá
16 Nuestra Señora de la Antigua patron saint of La Vega.
16 San Roque patron saint of Jaibón, Laguna Salada(Valverde)
22 Sagrado Corazón de Jesús patron saint of los Hidalgos(Prov.Puerto Plata), Ojeda(Prov.Barahona), Fantino( Cotuí), Manzanillo(Montecristi)
24 San Bartolomé patron saint of Chaquey Abajo(Cotuí).
30 Santa Rosa de Lima patron saint of La Romana.
31 San Ramón patron saint of Partido(Dajabón)
7 Nuestra Señora de los Remedios patron saint of Azua, Cabral in Barahona, El Limón in Jimaní, Naranjo in San Juan de la Maguana
14 Exaltación de la Santísima Cruz patron saint of Mao in Valverde
24 Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes/Las Mercedes is patroness of the firefighters and the Patron Saint of the Dominican People. The day is celebrated by a pilgrimage to the shrine of Saint Cerro atop a hill that is close the city of La Vega.
29 San Miguel Arcángel / St. Michael,the Archangel is the patron saint of the Dominican armed forces. He is the Captain of the Celestial Legions. Combating the devil he leads the forces of heaven in their triumph over the powers of hell. Celebrated in the Santo Domingo town of San Miguel.
1 San Francisco patron saint of Bánica
4 Nuestra Señora del Rosario patron saint of Barahona
12 Nuestra Señora del Pilar patron saint of Sabana de la Mar and Cevicos.
14 Santa Rosa de Jesús patron saint of Elías Piña.
15 Santa Teresa de Avila patron saint of Comendador in Elías Piña
24 San Rafael patron saint of Boca Chica, Capotillo, Palma Herrada y los 21 in Moca, San Rafael del Yuma, Tamboril, Estancia Vieja in Santiago Rodríguez, Villa Tapia y Quita Sueño in Cotuí, Guayacanes in Valeverde
29 San Judas Tadeo patron saint of Escondido in Baní
1 Todos los Santos patron saint of Maguana in San Juan de la Maguana
21 Nuestra Señora de Regla patron saint of Baní
5 Santa Bárbara patron saint of Samaná
8 Inmaculada Concepción patron saint of Cotuí, Monte Grande in Dajabón, Estancia Nueva in Moca, Sombrero in Baní, Oviedo in Pedernales, Ramón Santana in San Pedro de Macorís
13 Santa Lucía patron saint of Las Matas de Farfán and El Peñón in Barahona
18 Virgen del Amparo patron saint of Polo in Barahona and Esperanza in Valverde
27 San Juan Evangelista patron saint of Salcedo
Here is a list of Patron Saints and different celebrations and what town celebrate that saint. The dates are a general reference and can change year to year depending on the dates the government sets.
picture/ painting of Altagracia
Did you know?
1 in every 12 Dominicans are named Altagracia in honor of the patron saint.
Every year more than 800,000 people make the pilgrimage to the Basilica of Altagracia in Higuey.
Pope John Paul II visited the Basilica in Higuey when he came to the island January 25, 1979,
1 Santo Cristo de los Milagros of Bayaguana - ofrenda de los toros/ The Offering of the bulls (More information about this tradition go to our page on Town Traditions)
21 Nuestra Señora de La Altagracia o Virgen de la Altagracia
3 y 4 San Benito de Palermo celebrated in Guayabal, a providence of. Azua
4 y 5 Procesión Romana-Higüey a procession to the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia in Higüey,starting at the Obelisco in La Romana
8 Miércoles de Ceniza/ Ash Wednesday
17 Damballah is symbolized by un arco iris/ Rainbow
19 San José this saint is celebrated in the towns of Restauración(Dajabón), Río Grande(Puerto Plata), Villa Vásquez(Prov. Montecristi), San José de las Matas(Prov. Dajabón), Yamasá(Prov. Monte Plata), El Valle (Sabana de la Mar). In Azua this patron saint is celebrated with carnival like festivities.
8 Amancia Pérez patron saint of Pueblo Arriba, Baní. This is the death of this saint who was the keeper of the San Juan Bautista en la Cofradía/ Saint John the Baptist in the Brotherhood
14 y 15 La Dolorita patron saint of Los Morenos, Villa Mella. She is a saint who bestows miracles and helps the people. It is celebrated by hundresd with salves, atabales, rezos y cantos/dance, prayers and song.(
to learn more about salves, atables and afro dominican music (opens in new window))
Real Life and Times in the Dominican Republic
Virgen de la Altagracia was crowned the spiritual mother of Higuey by pontificate of Pius XI in August 15, 1922. The ceremony was held in Santo Domingo at the Puerta del Conde. It was declared that January 21st would be a National holiday by the President of the Dominican Republic, Doctor Joaquin Antonio Balaguer Ricardo. This ceremony was attended by many important people of the Catholic church.
This celebration is now a blend of African religions and Catholicism. Dominicans recite prayers, play African influenced music, sing hymns and dance.
"The hour is, then, causes so that we swear on the foot of this Basilica, in the presence of the Delegate of his Sanctity, His Eminence the cardinal Jose Humberto Quintero, who from today and onward we will work together by the good of the Mother country and the union and the concord of the national family”,
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(“La hora es, pues, propicia para que juremos al pie de esta Basílica, en presencia del Delegado de Su Santidad, Su Eminencia el cardenal José Humberto Quintero, que desde hoy en adelante trabajaremos juntos por el bien de la Patria y por la unión y la concordia de la familia nacional”) proclaimed Balaguer, when giving the Basilica to the Ecclesiastical authorities.
