This document provides a calendar of folklore and cultural festivals in Venezuela from January to December. Some of the major events included are the Child Parade on January 1st, the Divine Shepherdess festival in January in Lara State, Carnival celebrations in February in El Callao including Calipso parades and dances, Holy Week traditions in March and April in Caracas honoring the Nazarene, Independence Day celebrations on April 19th, May festivals honoring the Holy Cross across the country, and Independence Day celebrations on July 5th. The calendar notes the location and brief description of numerous regional festivals celebrating religious figures, independence dates, and cultural traditions throughout the year.

1. FOLKLORE-CULTURAL CALENDAR
PIERINA VILLERO

2. JANUARY
• Date: January 1st Festivity: Child Parade Location: all of the state Merida Description: Family
celebration around the image of the Child Jesus. Meals and special drinks. Carols and
bonuses brighten the mood.
• Date: January 14 Festivity: Fiestas of the Divine Shepherdess Location: Lara State Description:
On January 14, the Divina Pastora to Barquisimeto is transported in a large and fervent
procession from her church in Santa Rosa.

3. FEBRUARY
• Date: February 20
Festivity: Federation Day
Place: Pueblo Nuevo, Paraguaná and Coro (Falcón)
• Date: During the celebration of Carnival
Festivity: El Calipso
Location: El Callao (Bolívar)
Description: During the celebration of the carnival, a series of colorful parades are organized, which,
with the accompaniment of cylindrical drums, perform and dance this particular musical genre, known
by the name of Calipso, which presents a notable Antillean influence.

4. MARCH
• Date: March - April
Festivity: The Nazarene of St. Paul
Location: Caracas
Description: Religious festival in honor of the image of the Nazarene that is venerated in the Basilica of
St. Teresa. This tradition dates from the time of the Colony and is celebrated on Holy Wednesday.
Promise payers wear purple, similar to the Nazarene
• Date: March 4 to 14
Festivity: Fair of Calabozo.
Place: Calabozo (Guárico)
Description: Agroindustrial exhibition. Bullfights. Various shows.

5. APRIL
• Date: April 19
Festivity: Declaration of the Independence Act
Location: Venezuela
Description: The revolution of April 19, 1810 was the first step towards independence, and marked the
beginning of one of the most important stages in the history of Venezuela.
• Date: April May
Festivity: Easter
Location: Venezuela
Description: Holy Week has two essential parts: the end of Lent (Palm Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and
Holy Wednesday) and the Easter Triduum (Thursday, Friday and Saturday). For the Catholic Church is the
most important time of the year. No specific date, changes according to year

6. MAY• Date: All of May
Festivity: Velorio de la Cruz de Mayo
Location: In the whole country
Description: Feast corresponding to the summer solstice which is especially carried out in the east, center and
west of the country. It consists in the veneration of the Holy Cross; For this they decorate it with flowers and
garlands, they recite and sing songs. This manifestation undergoes variations as far as the music and other
elements, according to the region.
• Date: the whole month of May
Festivity: Dancing devils
Location: San Francisco de Yare (Miranda), Patanemo (Carabobo), Chuao (Aragua), Naiguatá (Vargas).
Description: Folkloric festival held on Thursdays in Corpus Christi. It consists of the payment of promises by
the faithful to the body of Jesus Christ, performing a procession and dance around the town square, in front of
the church, dressed in devils.

7. JUNE
• Date: June 24
Festivity: Battle of Carabobo
Location: Venezuela
Description: The Battle of Carabobo is one of the most important events in Venezuelan history since,
thanks to it, began the Republican road of the country that would be defined in 1823 with the Battle
Naval de Lago
• Date: June 24th
Festivity: Drums of San Juan
Location: Curiepe (Miranda)
Description: The mine, the curbeta, the round drum and the ass epuy resound. The town, confused with
the visitors, crowds in the streets to dance rhythmically to the sound of the fulia sung by the villager
barloventeño.

8. JULY
• Date: July 5
Festivity: Independence Day
Location: In the whole country
Description: It commemorates the Congress of July 5, 1811, celebrated in the Chapel of Santa Rosa de
Lima, where the Independence of Venezuela was declared. Civic events throughout the country
• Date: July 24
Festivity: Natalicio del Libertador Simón Bolívar and Day of the Naval Battle of the Lake
Location: across the country
Description: Civic and military acts. The main events take place in Caracas, Maracaibo, Puerto Cabello
and Central Coast.

9. AUGUST
• Date: 08 to 18 August
Festivity: International Craftsmen's Fair
Location: Tintorero (Lara)
Description: International parties performed by Tintorero people and craftsmen, in Lara state, as a
staging of the pieces they make, and which are sold at excellent prices to tourists who have visited since
many years ago, these fairs
• Date: 15th to 21st of August
Festivity: Consolation Fair
Location: Táriba (Táchira)
Book Condition: New. Retretas. Novilladas. Agricultural exhibition. Creole ball tournaments. Around the
church and the Plaza Bolívar awnings are raised where the inhabitants of the nearby villages expose
their products to sell them. Typical food and drinks. Handicrafts.

10. SEPTEMBER
• Date: September 5 to 11
Festivity: Feasts in honor of Our Lady of Coromoto
Location: Naiguatá
Book Condition: New. Popular celebrations. Cockfights. Sports competitions.
• Date: September 23 and 24
Festivity: Dance of the Turas
Location: Maparari (Falcón)
Description: Celebration of indigenous descent where man gives worship to nature, giving thanks for
the fruits received and asking for good crops for the coming year.

11. OCTOBER
• Date: October 12
Festivity: Feast for the Day of the Spirits
Location: Montaña de Sorte (Yaracuy) Mountain of Maria Lionza.
Description: Dances, rituals santeros and spiritualists in honor to all the entities of the cult. Dance on
fire, drum beat, dances, songs. etc.
• Date: October 12
Festivity: Day of the Race
Location: All Venezuela
Description: Fiesta in commemoration to the Discovery of America.

12. NOVEMBER
• Date: 7th and 8th of November
Festivity: King's National Fishing Classic
Place: Peninsula of Paraguaná (Falcón)
Description: There are numerous national and foreign nautical equipment, between Punta Caimán and
Punta Macoya. Water skiing, underwater fishing and sailing regattas.
• Date: 15 to 22 November
Festivity: Chinita Fair
Location: Maracaibo (Zulia)
Description: It has its origin in the Patron Saint of the Chiquinquirá. Religious activities. Processions,
songs of bagpipes in honor of "La Chinita", as the Zulian people call the virgin of Chiquinquirá.
Agricultural exhibitions. Artistic and sports shows. Bullfights.

13. DECEMBER
• Date: December 4
Festivity: Celebration of the Day of Santa Barbara
Location: All the Country
Description: A day in which the faithful of the cult of Santa Barbara, pay tribute to their image, delivering
offerings ranging from simple rituals to great parties accompanied by music, dancing, songs and much food.
The offerings to her are: Wine, fruits (apples), grains, lots of light (candles), flowers.
• Date: December 17
Festivity: Simon Bolivar death
Location: Venezuela
Description: Civic and military acts throughout Venezuela.
• Date: December 28
Festivity: Day of the Holy Innocents
Location: Venezuela
Description: It is a tradition during the Day of the Innocents to make jokes of all kinds, but the name is due to
the massacre of the innocents mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew.