The Virgin of Altagracia, protectress of the Dominican people

The Dominican people has a special devotion to Our Lady of Altagracia, whom they consider as their protective mother.

Celebrated each year on January 21, her feast day is a national holiday.

According to historians and parish priests, the official feast of Our Lady of Altagracia falls on January 21 because, on that day in 1691, the Battle of the Sabana Real took place in the eastern part of the island of Santo Domingo, where the Spanish army, led by Antonio Miniel defeated the French army.

It is believed that the Spanish asked the Virgen de la Altagracia to help them win the battle. On January 21, they held a great religious festival to venerate Altagracia.

According to other researchers, the feast originated from an event that happened to a Spanish peasant from the autonomous community of Extremadura. The peasant was walking through a forest when the Virgin Mary appeared to him from the height of a tree, hence the name of “Lady of Altagracia” or “Virgin of Altagracia from the grace of the Lord.”

In the last trips of Christopher Columbus, a group of Spaniards brought the image of the Virgin to the island, to the Higüey region.

Since then, the attachment of Dominican Christians for their heavenly mother has spread to the whole island, as the Virgin of Altagracia became known for her miracles.

Adapted from https://dominicantoday.com/dr/local/2021/01/21/why-is-the-day-of-the-virgin-of-altagracia-celebrated/