Festivals

On January 21, Día de la Altagracia, thousands of devoted pilgrims from all over the Dominican Republic [1] come to La Basilica de Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia [2] to fulfill promises made in prayer to the Virgin Mary, the Dominican patron saint, and touch the painting of her that hangs behind the altar.

But it’s not only Catholicism that draws people to Higüey [3] for Altagracia Day. As with anything in the Dominican Republic, where there is a gathering, there is dancing in the streets to blaring merengue music and flowing rum. Oranges, conveniently in season this time of year, are abundantly for sale in honor of the legend that the Virgin Mary appeared in an orange tree to a sick little girl, miraculously healing her.