Oruro and the Diablata

Origin

Silver miners have venerated the « Virgin of the Candlestick » (Virgen de la Candelaria), also known as the « Virgin of the Tunnel » (Virgen del socavon) since the end of the 16^th century.

Tradition tells the story of an apparition of the Virgin to the people during a time of crisis, when they were caught in a curious supernatural battle against demons, who came from the north in the form of toads, from the south as snakes, and from the east as giant ants. The Virgin answered the prayers of the people and changed the ants into sand, the snakes into rocks and put the toads to flight. (1) The feast of the Diablata recalls this prodigy.

The Diablata

The Diablata is celebrated on a Saturday during the Carnival. The procession is made up of several groups of faithful, who first march toward the church, then enter it. Dancers go in and out of the sanctuary without ever turning their backs to the statue representing Our Lady.

Another kind of parade represents devils, led by Lucifer and the « China supay » who is the embodiment of female sensuality. There are also good angels who fight against them, marching behind Saint Michael.

It is interesting to note that several confraternities composed distinctly of Indians, Mestizos and Whites meet on the outskirts of town and walk together as a group to pay their respects to the Virgin Mary.

This pluri-ethnical procession is in itself a great victory against the devil who seeks to divide and provoke discriminations, or inhuman work conditions, such as the way it is in the mines. It is a public display of Christian unity around Jesus and Mary.

Note: Associating the Virgin Mary to the fight and the victory against the devil and all the demons of our modern society is exactly the message of the New Testament, especially of Saint John's Apocalypse, chapter 12: the Woman gives birth to a Son threatened by Satan. The Son is caught up by the right hand of God (this is the Ascension of Jesus after the Passion and Resurrection), while Satan fights against the other children of that Woman who is at the same time the Church and Mary. Read more and deepen this topic by going to: "Want to know more."

Feasts:

February 2: Our Lady of the Candlestick

Saturday of Carnival: the Diablata

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(1) Cf. Attilio GALLI, Madre della Chiesa dei Cinque continenti, Ed. Segno, Udine, 1997, p. 885-891