Today, Argentina commemorates the Immaculate Conception Day, also known as the Virgin’s Day, when Catholics celebrate the figure of Virgin Mary. The country decks out with processions and homages: the most important one in the northern province of Salta. December 8th is also the traditional day to assemble the Christmas tree and dust off the Christmas ornaments.The Immaculate Conceptions is a important holiday for several South American countries such as Uruguay, Chile, Peru, Brazil and Ecuador, amongst others. It is an immovable holiday, not as other days which are moved to their closest Monday or Friday in order to extend the weekend and promote tourism.
In Salta, a massive procession, heads to the town called Tres Cerritos where –according to the legends- the virgin appeared in 1990 and sends regular messages since then. The enormous Catholic pilgrimage reaches this little country town every December. The devotion phenomenon repeats in every Argentine church and you might also see it in Buenos Aires city and its outskirts (especially in Luján Church).In the rest of the city, believers and non-believers dress their houses with the typical Christmas ornaments. The same thing happens in bars and restaurants, the stores, the streets and, sometimes, in the very Obelisco which becomes –for a couple of days- in the largest and most emblematic Christmas tree in Buenos Aires city. Christmas time starts and Hostel Colonial is waiting for you.
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