1. Home
  2. Slideshows
  3. Dancing Devils Celebrate in Nicaragua Fest

Dancing Devils Celebrate in Nicaragua Fest

Published August 4th, 2020 - 06:59 GMT

Indian chiefs and dancing red and black devils invade the Nicaraguan capital each August as the annual Santo Domingo festival explodes in the streets of Managua to honor the tiny statue of a Roman Catholic saint.

The Santo Domingo de Guzman festival in Managua, Nicaragua, is filled with rituals and dancing, feasting, celebrations and worshipping. Thousands of people give thanks to Santo Domingo and ask for blessings during the 10-day festival.

At the end of the 19th century, in the midsize town that Managua was at that time, the discovery surrounded by mysticism of a small catholic statuette of Santo Domingo de Guzmán provoked the start and evolution of a massive traditional festivity that is both colorful and full of fervor and happiness, and which ultimately transformed into the Patron Saint Festivities of the capital city.

The capital dwellers have different perceptions about these festivities:

On one hand there is the procession of the saint, which is attended by thousands of people and full of traditional cultural and religious expression and enthusiasm, and on the other hand there are horse and car parades which are also attended by large groups of people with the spirit to entertain and participate in the party atmosphere that is created on the streets.

View as a slider
View as a list
A Catholic faithful smeared in burnt oil takes part in the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020 amid the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP

A Catholic faithful smeared in burnt oil takes part in the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020 amid the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP

A Catholic faithful smeared in burnt oil poses for a picture as he takes part in the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020 amid the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP

A Catholic faithful smeared in burnt oil poses for a picture as he takes part in the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020 amid the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP

A Catholic faithful poses for a picture as she takes part in the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020 amid the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP

A Catholic faithful poses for a picture as she takes part in the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020 amid the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP

A Catholic faithful painted in red ink poses for a picture as he takes part in the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020 amid the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP

A Catholic faithful painted in red ink poses for a picture as he takes part in the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020 amid the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP

A Catholic faithful smeared in burnt oil and wearing a cross takes part in the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020 amid the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP

A Catholic faithful smeared in burnt oil and wearing a cross takes part in the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020 amid the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP

Catholic faithfuls smeared in burnt oil take part in the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020 amid the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP

Catholic faithfuls smeared in burnt oil take part in the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020 amid the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP

A Catholic faithful wears a face mask as a preventive measure against the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, during the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration.

A Catholic faithful wears a face mask as a preventive measure against the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, during the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration.

A Catholic faithful wears a face mask as a preventive measure against the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, during the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP

A Catholic faithful wears a face mask as a preventive measure against the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, during the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP

Catholic faithfuls wear face masks as a preventive measure against the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, during the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP

Catholic faithfuls wear face masks as a preventive measure against the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, during the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP

A Catholic faithful smeared in burnt oil takes part in the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020 amid the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP
A Catholic faithful smeared in burnt oil poses for a picture as he takes part in the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020 amid the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP
A Catholic faithful poses for a picture as she takes part in the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020 amid the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP
A Catholic faithful painted in red ink poses for a picture as he takes part in the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020 amid the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP
A Catholic faithful smeared in burnt oil and wearing a cross takes part in the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020 amid the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP
Catholic faithfuls smeared in burnt oil take part in the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020 amid the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP
A Catholic faithful wears a face mask as a preventive measure against the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, during the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration.
A Catholic faithful wears a face mask as a preventive measure against the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, during the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP
Catholic faithfuls wear face masks as a preventive measure against the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, during the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP
A Catholic faithful smeared in burnt oil takes part in the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020 amid the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP
A Catholic faithful smeared in burnt oil takes part in the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020 amid the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP
A Catholic faithful smeared in burnt oil poses for a picture as he takes part in the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020 amid the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP
A Catholic faithful smeared in burnt oil poses for a picture as he takes part in the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020 amid the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP
A Catholic faithful poses for a picture as she takes part in the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020 amid the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP
A Catholic faithful poses for a picture as she takes part in the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020 amid the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP
A Catholic faithful painted in red ink poses for a picture as he takes part in the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020 amid the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP
A Catholic faithful painted in red ink poses for a picture as he takes part in the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020 amid the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP
A Catholic faithful smeared in burnt oil and wearing a cross takes part in the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020 amid the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP
A Catholic faithful smeared in burnt oil and wearing a cross takes part in the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020 amid the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP
Catholic faithfuls smeared in burnt oil take part in the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020 amid the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP
Catholic faithfuls smeared in burnt oil take part in the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020 amid the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP
A Catholic faithful wears a face mask as a preventive measure against the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, during the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration.
A Catholic faithful wears a face mask as a preventive measure against the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, during the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration.
A Catholic faithful wears a face mask as a preventive measure against the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, during the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP
A Catholic faithful wears a face mask as a preventive measure against the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, during the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP
Catholic faithfuls wear face masks as a preventive measure against the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, during the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP
Catholic faithfuls wear face masks as a preventive measure against the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, during the opening of the ten-day celebration of the Santo Domingo de Guzman festival, outside the Las Sierritas de Santo Domingo church in Managua, on August 1, 2020. Despite the Catholic Church cancelling all religious activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, devotees gathered outside the church for the celebration. Inti OCON / AFP

You may also like

Subscribe

Sign up to our newsletter for exclusive updates and enhanced content
Subscribe Now
Loading content ...