Zulianos celebrate the 315 years of La Chinita

This Monday, November 18, the celebration of the Day of the Virgin of Chiquinquirábetter known as La Chinitapatron saint of the state and symbol of faith for millions of Venezuelans.

This 2024 is very special for the Zulian faithful because it commemorates the 125 years of the Consecration to the Blessed Sacrament, the 82 years of the coronation of the Virgin and the 315 years of her appearance on the shores of Lake Maracaibo.

How do Zulians celebrate La Chinita?

The celebration, which in total lasts about 40 days from the descent of La Chinita, has great relevance this November 18 because it is when The Plaza de La Basílica receives more than 20,000 people and the temple opens its doors to receive the parishioners who are paying their promise to the virgin.

The day started very early with special masses in the Basilica of Our Lady of Chiquinquiráwhere the faithful pay honor to La Chinita, after standing in long lines outside this church to leave offerings and perform acts of gratitude to the holy image for the requests fulfilled.

At 1:00 pm the traditional baseball game will be held in honor of the Virgin, in which Las Águilas del Zulia will host Tiburones de La Guaira, the current champions of the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League.

Subsequently, At 5:00 pm the solemn Eucharist is scheduled, which will take place in the small square of the basilica..

Throughout the day, pipe groups perform their best songs in honor of La Chinita, while a wide variety of activities for the whole family are offered, such as exhibitions, rides, artistic presentations and exquisite cuisine.

The parish procession is scheduled for November 23, when the Holy Relic will visit various areas of the historic center.

On November 30, the activities will culminate with a mass beginning at 11:00 pm, followed by a procession that will travel through the streets of Maracaibo throughout the early hours of the morning until reaching the Basilica at 6:00 am.