Fieldwork Archive
Tu gloria, tu gloria
Performed by Milagros Vivas de Urbina and Claudio Marcelo Urbina-Vivas.
Recorded August 15, 2025 in León, Nicaragua (acquisition date: August 16, 2025).
Fragment. Recorded by Claudio Alexander Urbina on behalf of Derek Piotr.
La gritería ("the shout") is a Nicaraguan festival which originated in the early 18th century, held in honor of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, also nicknamed the Purísima.
It is celebrated on the night of December 7th, the eve of the Catholic feast day for the Immaculate Conception.
On August 14 there is a similar celebration, called la gritería chiquita ("the little shout") in honor of the Assumption of Mary.
These celebrations, especially the one for the Immaculate Conception, are some of the largest in the country and are celebrated in its various towns and cities.
They hold special significance in the city of León, where they originated.
Here, Fieldwork Archivist Claudio Alexander Urbina records his grandmother and father singing together a verse and chorus of a Marian carol associated with these holidays. A third voice joining along briefly is that of one of the other unidentified relatives or friends that were present.
gozoso este día,
oh dulce María,
publica mi voz.
Oh Virgen, oh Madre,
oh cándida estrella,
cuán pura, cuán bella
la aurora te vio.
joyful this day,
O sweet Mary,
publish my voice.
O Virgin, O Mother,
O innocent star,
how pure, how beautiful
the dawn beheld you.
