Chinita's fair is almost here!!!

Let's celebrate our Zulianity by writing in our blogs about our dear Patroness "Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá". She is also the patron saint of Colombia, and the town of Caraz in Peru.

In Maracaibo we celebrate the Chinita's fair in November with an all-night party. The Chinita’s fair officially begins on October 27th when the Virgin is taken down from the altar in which she rests. She tours all over the Zulia State and returns to the Basilica to start all the religious festivities. Other cultural activities are held during the fair. Expo-Zulia is a temporary marketplace where the zulians show a great deal products that characterize our region. Many merchants, stores, companies and artisans offer their products at reasonably low prices.  Many “gaiteros” gather in front of the basilica to sing their best gaitas to please the patron virgin.  

This year we are celebrating the XLVI.  Take some time to think what this celebration means to us people from Zulia. Write a post in your blog about her festivities. You can make a poster, include pictures of the chinita and the different fun things we do to celebrate. Tell the world about our traditions. Use the following graph to help you write about the festivity.

Here you have some links where you can find info on this year celebration:

Alcaldia de Maracaibo
Blog de la Feria
Facebook de la feria

Also include a Gaita... what's your favorite? Who sings it? who composed it? why do you like it?

This gaita is about the first homenaje we do for our Chinita: La Bajada de la Virgen

These are the lyrics to this beautiful gaita.

La Bajada de la Virgen - Los Compadres del Exito

Cuando bajan a la virgen el cielo viene con ella.

I
Terminaron los pasquines
Apagaron los faroles
Y lo negrita Indalecia
Va vendiendo sus turrones (Bis)

Coro
Cuando bajan a la virgen
El cielo viene con ella
Mi Maracaibo se llena de musical alegría
Y toda la tierra mía del saladillo de siempre
A todo el Zulia lo enciende
Mi gaita que es armonía. (Bis)

II
Ya el rosario termino
La orquesta del alto sano
Tocan una gaita hermano
De esas del tiempo de u don. (Bis)

Coro

III
Ya van a prender los  fuegos
La placita está repleta
Truenos en las 15 letras
Y también cucaracheros. (Bis)

Coro

IV
Y no sé porque razón
Hoy Rubén el campanero
Quien siempre enciende los fuegos
Está ausente en el fiestón. (Bis)

Well, the most important thing is that you have fun working on your task... and practice your English.

Keep on shining Love and Peace!
Doris3m