Our Lady of Meritxell

Our Lady of Meritxell (Mare de Déu de Meritxell), Andorra's patron saint, is revered as the country's spiritual guardian. She is also the topic of a significant event that has been held on September 8th, the same day as the Andorran National Holiday, since 1873. This Roman Catholic saint is depicted by a statue of the Virgin Mary holding the newborn Jesus in her lap at the Meritxell Chapel. The original statue of Baby Christ, created in the 12th century, was destroyed in a fire.

On January 6, in the late 12th century, residents from Meritxell on their way to Mass in Canillo discovered a wild rose in bloom. It was out of season, and there was a statue of the Virgin and Child at its foot. The statue was installed in the church of Canillo. The statue, however, was discovered the next day under the same wild rose. The statue was moved to Encamp's church. The statue, however, was discovered under the same wild rose the next day, as it had been before. The residents of Meritxell regarded this as a sign and chose to build a new chapel in their town after seeing an open space miraculously unaffected by the winter snows, as in similar legends elsewhere.