Descent of Saint Dominic in Managua in 2025

Descent of Saint Dominic in Managua in 2025
Fiestas Patronales de Santo Domingo, Managua. Image by Mario Fernando Aburto
  How long until Descent of Saint Dominic?
Descent of Saint Dominic
  Dates of Descent of Saint Dominic in Managua
2026 Aug 1, Aug 10
Mon, Aug 10Regional Holiday
Sat, Aug 1Regional Holiday
2025 Aug 1, Aug 10
Sun, Aug 10Regional Holiday
Fri, Aug 1Regional Holiday
2024 Aug 1, Aug 10
Sat, Aug 10Regional Holiday
Thu, Aug 1Regional Holiday
2023 Aug 1, Aug 10
Thu, Aug 10Regional Holiday
Tue, Aug 1Regional Holiday
2022 Aug 1, Aug 10
Wed, Aug 10Regional Holiday
Mon, Aug 1Regional Holiday
  Summary

At the end of the 19th century, in Managua, the discovery of a small statue of Santo Domingo de Guzmán, led to the creation of two days of traditional holidays to celebrate the patron saint of Nicaragua's capital city.

  Local name
Treida de Santo Domingo de Guzmán

When are the holidays for Saint Dominic in Managua?

There are two regional public holidays in Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, on August 1st and 10th.

Both holidays focus on Saint Dominic, the patron saint of the city.

Traditions of the Descent and Ascent of Saint Dominic

At the end of the 19th century, in the city of Managua, the discovery of a tiny statue of Santo Domingo de Guzmán, led to the beginning of a traditional holiday that fills the city with colour, fervour and joy on two days in August.

Every August, on the 1st and 10th of the month, the main thoroughfares of Managua are flooded with people celebrating the "Minguito" festivities. In Nicaragua "mingo" is a nickname of the name Domingo, and minguito is a diminutive of the latter, referring to the small statue.

The Descent of the Saint

Apart from the ten days in August, minguito is housed in the Parish of Las Sierritas. After an early morning mass on August 1st, the statue is taken in a grand procession accompanied by thousands of onlookers to the Santo Domingo de Managua Church. Oftentimes, 'Descent' means some spiritual journey. In this case, it's far more pragmatic. The Parish of Las Sierritas is at a higher altitude than the Santo Domingo de Managua Church, so the minguito is literally descending.

The Ascent of the Saint

On August 10th, it is time for the statue to make its way to the Parish of Las Sierritas. It is taken back in another elaborate and colourful parade bring to end the Santo Domingo celebrations in the city for another year.

Saint Dominic

Santo Domingo de Guzmán was a 12th-century Spanish priest and founder of the Dominican Order. Both his dates of his birth (August 8th 1170) and death (August 6th 1221) fall inside the dates of the Managua holidays.

If you think about Dominic and Latin America, two countries jump put at you - Dominica and the Dominican Republic. Dominica was named by Christopher Columbus in 1493, but rather than naming it after the saint as was his usual rule, it is named after Sunday, the day of the week when he first sighted the island. The Dominican Republic is named after Saint Dominic, with the capital still named Santo Domingo.


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