Virgin of Caacup Day
Tuesday, December 8, 2026
The Feast of the Virgin of Caacup, also known as Our Lady of Miracles of Caacup, is celebrated on December 8 and is the most important religious and cultural festival in Paraguay. Observed as a national holiday, the day honors the patroness of Paraguay, the Virgin of Caacup, whose sanctuary is located in the city of Caacup, approximately 54 kilometers from Asuncion. The Virgin of Caacup is deeply venerated by the Paraguayan people as a symbol of national identity, faith, and cultural heritage. The feast day draws hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from across Paraguay and neighboring countries who travel to the basilica in Caacup, many completing the journey on foot as an act of devotion. December 8 coincides with the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception in the Catholic Church, and the two celebrations are intimately linked in Paraguayan popular piety. The basilica of Caacup, built in the Neo-Gothic style, is one of the most significant religious sites in South America, and the feast day represents the culmination of novena prayers and spiritual preparations.
History
The devotion to the Virgin of Caacup traces its origins to the early 17th century. According to tradition, in 1600, a Guarani convert named Jose, while searching for wood in the forest near Caacup, was pursued by hostile indigenous people. He prayed to the Virgin Mary for protection and promised to carve a statue in her honor if he was saved. After escaping, he carved two statues of the Virgin from the wood of a tree. One statue came to be known as the Virgin of Miracles and the other as the Virgin of the Blue Mountain, or Caacup, which in Guarani means behind the mountain. The statues were originally placed in a small chapel built with the help of Franciscan missionaries. Devotion grew steadily as miracles were attributed to the Virgin's intercession. In 1760, a larger church was built, and in 1883, the current basilica was begun, though not completed until the 20th century. Pope Pius X officially declared the Virgin of Caacup the patroness of Paraguay in 1912. The basilica was elevated to the status of a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II during his visit to Caacup in 1987.
How It's Celebrated
The Feast of the Virgin of Caacup draws over a million pilgrims to the city of Caacup each year. Many devotees walk for days from all corners of Paraguay to reach the basilica, often completing the last kilometers on their knees as an act of penance and devotion. The celebration includes a solemn Mass presided over by the Archbishop of Asuncion, attended by thousands inside and outside the basilica. Processions carry the revered statue of the Virgin through the streets of Caacup, accompanied by traditional music, prayers, and hymns. The atmosphere blends religious solemnity with festive celebration, featuring traditional Paraguayan music, including harp and guitar performances, folk dances, and the sale of typical foods such as chipa, mbeju, and sopa paraguaya. Many pilgrims offer candles, flowers, and handwritten petitions to the Virgin, expressing gratitude for favors received throughout the year.