Las Mañanitas (celebration)

Las Mañanitas is an annual event held in Ponce, Puerto Rico, dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe. It consists of a pre-dawn popular parade, followed by a Catholic Mass, and a popular town breakfast hosted by the municipal government.[1] It takes place on December 12, and is a traditional event sponsored by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ponce but attended by Catholic leaders from Puerto Rico at large.[2] Widely covered by the press every year, the event is attended by over 10,000 people, including religious and political leaders and the general public.[3] Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 celebration will take place in a modified program fashion: there will be no walked procession, as traditionally done, but instead the Eucharist will be televised and would-be attendees can instead celebrate Las Mañanitas from their own homes.[4]

Las Mañanitas
Official nameLas Mañanitas
Observed byPonceños in Ponce, Puerto Rico
TypeLocal, religious, historical
SignificanceCelebration in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patron lady of the city
CelebrationsParade, cultural festivals
ObservancesYearly
Date12 December
Next time12 December 2021 (2021-12-12)
Frequencyannual
Related toCulture and Religion

History

The celebration started in 1964,[5] but the circumstances of its origin are uncertain. Some say it was started by immigrant Mexican engineers while others state it was started by Spaniards from Extremadura, Spain.[6] During the celebration participants and attendees join in singing together the traditional Las Mañanitas song while Mexican mariachis provide the background music.[7][8] The city of Ponce offers a free breakfast to everyone present at the historic Ponce City Hall after the religious Mass concludes.[9]

Venue

The outdoors/indoors pre-dawn festival-parade starts at Parque del Tricentenario, runs down Calle Isabel and ends at Catedral de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe at Plaza Las Delicias in downtown Ponce.[10]

Attendance and cost

The early morning, pre-dawn celebration is attended by over 10,000 people, including mayors and other prominent figures.[11] In 2016, the event, together with the lighting of the City Hall Christmas decorations and the kickoff of its fiestas patronales, cost the municipality around $30,000.[12]

Schedule

The celebration occurs every December 12 and starts at 4:00am.[13] The city of Ponce offers a free breakfast to everyone present at the historic Ponce City Hall after the religious Mass concludes.[14] Mariachis continue their music while attendees have their breakfast.[15]

While not a part of this celebration, in the past the Government of Ponce has scheduled the Ponce Marathon to occur on the same day as the Las Mañanitas celebration. Marathon runners get an early start (5am) and complete their run just after the Catholic Mass has ended and while the public municipal city breakfast is taking place.[16][17]

See also

References
  1. Vuelven a Ponce las Fiestas Patronales. Carmen Cila Rodríguez. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 5 December 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2015. Archived at WayBack Machine on 1 February 2015.
  2. Latente la Tradicion: Multitud Madruga para Venerar en Ponce la Virgen de Guadalupe. Coral Negron Almodovar. La Perla del Sur. Year 35, Issue 1724. (14 to 20 December 2016) Ponce, Puerto Rico. p. 4.
  3. Miles le cantan las Mañanitas a la Virgen de Guadalupe en Ponce. Primera Hora. 12 December 2010. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  4. No habrá procesión de Las Mañanitas en Ponce. Voces del Sur. 26 November 2020. Accessed 29 November 2020.
  5. Latente la Tradicion: Multitud Madruga para Venerar en Ponce la Virgen de Guadalupe. Coral Negron Almodovar. La Perla del Sur. Year 35, Issue 1724. (14 to 20 December 2016) Ponce, Puerto Rico. p. 4.
  6. Latente la Tradicion: Multitud Madruga para Venerar en Ponce la Virgen de Guadalupe. Coral Negron Almodovar. La Perla del Sur. Year 35, Issue 1724. (14 to 20 December 2016) Ponce, Puerto Rico. p. 4.
  7. A celebrar Las Mañanitas en Ponce. Primera Hora. 2 December 2011.
  8. Las Mananitas for Guadalupe. Archived 10 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine John Rieping. The Madera Tribune. Madera, California. 6 September 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  9. Vivo el fervor por la Guadalupana. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 12 December 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  10. Cientos de personas asisten a “Las Mañanitas” de Ponce. Metro. 12 December 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  11. Miles le cantan las Mañanitas a la Virgen de Guadalupe en Ponce. Primera Hora. 12 December 2010. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  12. https://www.elvocero.com/uncategorized/ponce-recibe-la-navidad-celebra-fiestas-patronales-y-las-ma/article_5bec7805-7b01-56b4-8c45-66870bf6615a.html Ponce recibe la Navidad, celebra fiestas patronales y 'Las Mañanitas' ] Hiram Santiago. El Vocero. 1 December 2016
  13. Vuelven a Ponce las Fiestas Patronales. Carmen Cila Rodríguez. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 5 December 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  14. Vivo el fervor por la Guadalupana. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 12 December 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  15. A celebrar Las Mañanitas en Ponce. Primera Hora. 2 December 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  16. Todo listo para La Guadalupe: Se correrá el domingo 11 desde las 5am en Ponce. El Nuevo Dia. 2 December 2011. Archived 8 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  17. Virgen De La Guadalupe Ponce 2010, Un Exito!! Archived 7 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine
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