The most remarkable of the fiestas patronales (saints days) celebrated in the Pueblos Blancos, this week-long folklore celebration blends pagan and Catholic elements with exuberant costumes and dance. Look out for t…

Not to be confused with the Day of the Dead, this spooky festival features legends such as the mocuana (the spirit that haunts La Mocuana hill), the chancha bruja (pig witch) and La Cegua, a monstrous woman who appe…

Carazo’s four major towns celebrate this interesting, ancient ritual. La Concepción brings out her patron saint, the Black Virgin of Montserrat, to meet Santiago, patron of Jinotepe, the old Nicarao capital; San Seb…

At the culmination of patron saint celebrations that start in September, the patron saint (in the guise of a bearded campesino named ‘Tata Chombó,’ or ‘Doctor of the Poor’) is taken from the Iglesia de San Jerónimo …

The saint is celebrated in an exuberant fashion in Barrio Monimbó, the highlight being the Baile de Chinegro de Mozote y Verga. It involves a mock battle between the participants, who hit each other with big sticks …

Diría celebrates its patron saint, San Pedro Apóstol (Peter the Apostle). The festivities include the crowning of a festival queen and 'dicking' – when participants go around whacking each other with dried bulls' pe…

One of Nicaragua's more unusual religious festivals pays homage to San Lázaro, a folk saint who bestows blessings upon dogs. Locals dress their pets to the nines; festivities include a procession of costumed canines…

Forty days after Semana Santa, this is the biggest hipica (horse parade) in Nicaragua; festivities honour El Cristo Negro de La Santísima Trinidad and peak on May 23, but keep going for another month.

This dance involves a mythical creature that is half bull, half deer (read: half Spanish, half indigenous), whose mission is to make fun of the rest of the fair.

Ballet folklorico (folk dance), fireworks and parades make this one of the country’s biggest celebrations for this popular saint.