The first one in the most famous festivals in Nicaragua that Toplist would like to introduce to you is La Purisima and La Griteria. La Purísima is a religious celebration that takes place at the end of November to commemorate the Virgin Mary's conception. Catholic devotees mark the occasion with nine days of prayer and the construction of an altar in their homes, as well as singing and gifts for those who come to visit. Then comes La Gritera, which translates as "the shouting," on December 7. It's a raucous affair, as you might expect. At 6 p.m., people begin to shout the question "¿Qué causa tanta alegría?" (What makes you so happy?) and others responded with "La Concepción de María” (Mary’s Conception).

This call and response continue for some time before the fireworks and firecrackers are set off, with people singing in the streets and visiting their friends' and neighbors' altars. As they visit each house, groups repeat the call and response, receiving traditional food, sweets, and drinks (known as "la gorra") from the homeowners. People also sing traditional Mary carols, and more firecrackers are set off at midnight, 6 a.m., and midday on December 7 and 8. Don't expect to get a good night's sleep; instead, spend your time socializing with the locals.

The celebration is a Nicaraguan tradition, though there are regional variations. For example, in the western city of Leon, residents construct a massive doll known as "La Gigantona," which dances through the streets accompanied by drums and horns. If you are in Nicaragua from the end of November to the end of December, make sure you participate in the tradition. It's a great way to meet locals and see inside their homes while participating in a massive national celebration.

Takes place: from the end of November leading up to December

Another one in the most famous festivals in Nicaragua that Toplist would like to introduce to you is La Judea. The great dramatization of the life and death of Jesus Christ carried out each year before the Week in Nicaragua, which is known as "Judea", will be presented at the end of March or at the beginning of April in the city of Tipitapa. Eleven groups from different cities will take part in the largest Judea in Nicaragua, both in terms of the number of actors and the number of people it attracts each year, the INC reported through government media.

La Judea is a Catholic theatrical work centered on the last hours of the life of Jesus Christ, as well as on his death, which takes place in the streets of each city where it is performed. In this work, the actors dress in period clothing and perform a faithful and dramatic as described by the Bible. One of the characteristics of Judea is that, as it is a street play, people can interact and take photos with the actors while they are offstage, since it is a dramatization carried out in real-time, which is why it last more than 12 hours.

Dozens of actors from the departments (provinces) of Managua, Chinandega, Madriz, Managua and Masaya, will be present in Tipitapa, a city located 23 kilometers northeast of the Nicaraguan capital and with a great tradition in Judea. La Judea is one of the most popular traditions related to Holy Week in Nicaragua.

In Nicaragua, 58.5% of the population considers itself Catholic. Nicaragua is a country with a Catholic majority since 58.5% of its 6.3 million inhabitants profess that religion, according to official data.

Takes place: at the end of March or at the beginning of April

The San Juan River Carnival is a unique annual celebration because it takes place on the water of the aforementioned river, making it a truly unique celebration. It is one of the most famous festivals in Nicaragua. San Carlos is responsible for organizing these carnivals, which have grown in popularity in recent years. It is true that a large number of events are held on the river, as its name suggests. Parades and concerts, on the other hand, are held on the ground. The San Juan River Carnival is the epicenter of a fantastic aquatic event that takes place year after year. There are tens of thousands of people who come to see not only the parades on the water but also the numerous cultural events and concerts that take place on land.

These very special carnivals are held on the banks of the San Juan River and are attended by thousands of people. Since its inception, this celebration has hosted numerous commemorative events that have taken advantage of the available spaces to adapt traditional celebrations to their unique riverside setting over the course of its 11-year history and tradition.

A variety of water parades, demonstrations in marine sports, memorial ceremonies, parades, and decorated boats crossing the San Juan River are all part of the festivities during the San Juan River Carnival. It has been several years since various groups and troupes have taken part in the carnival, transforming the celebrations into a major tourist attraction of paramount importance for the municipality in the process.

The boats that float down the river are the main attraction, but there are also troupes on the main street of the municipality, where different groups from various parts of the country perform, adding to the overall spectacle. The popularity of these carnivals has increased significantly since their inception, when they were attended by only 1,000 tourists, and has now reached nearly 10,000 visitors, including both national and international tourists, according to recent reports.

Takes place: between the second and third week of October (3 days)