A crowd witnessed the Marian Day celebrations in Tigre

Tigre traditionally celebrated Virgin Mary’s Day, with the nautical procession being a central part of the event. Neighbors and visitors gathered to celebrate December 8th and experienced a day full of emotions and joy, which also included a pilgrimage and a mass.

Tigre Mayor Julio Zamora attended the 76th anniversary celebrations and was part of the celebrations that began in the afternoon and continued until the early hours of the night on the banks of the Luján River.

“We hope that work will be the element of balance and integration in our community. Our message is that of unity and resolving differences in a sensible way and through dialogue. We must get through this period, which is very stressful for families. There is a community that, thanks to the fact that the Honorable Deliberative Council supported us with the budget a few days ago, continues to adhere to its public social policies. There is a local state that will have the task of taking care of the community,” said Zamora.

Commenting on the emotional day, he said: “It is a popular celebration for all neighbors, with a very warm message from Bishop Pizarro and Father Cote, who, like us, are committed to unity and resolving differences through dialogue.”

The traditional event began in the Immaculate Conception Parish with the procession of the Virgin Mary. We continued to the intersection of Lavalle and Paseo Victorica streets, where Holy Mass was celebrated under the direction of the Auxiliary Bishop of San Isidro, Raúl Pizarro. The ceremony was also attended by the parish priest of the Immaculate Conception, José Luis “Cote” Quijano, and church representatives from various places in the province of Buenos Aires and the Argentine Naval Prefecture.

A few moments later, the emblematic journey on the Luján River took place, led by the boat of the Argentine Naval Prefecture, which carried the figure of the Virgin along with the accompaniment of municipal, ecclesiastical and military authorities. The start and end point was the prefectural pier, on a now characteristic route from Puerto de Frutos to the Tigre Art Museum (MAT).

“For 10 years I have been accompanying the celebration, which has grown enormously. Although the social circumstances are complex, the number of people gatherings is increasing and the number of boats accompanying the nautical procession is increasing. The success lies in building an honest bond with each other and walking together,” emphasized Quijano.

At the same time, the traditional afternoon tea organized by the Association of Friends of the Tigre Art Museum (AAMAT) was held at MAT. There those present could observe the passage of the Virgin through the waters of the Luján River. To ensure security conditions throughout the event, a preventive operation was carried out consisting of the Tigre Emergency System (SET), Transit and Civil Defense, all coordinated by the Tigre Operations Center (COT).

“It is important to be close to our entire community, without forgetting those who suffer the most. We must love our neighbors and accompany the most vulnerable, our older adults, people with disabilities, but also be very close to the children who are growing up in an extremely complex and difficult context,” emphasized Gisela Zamora.

During the activity, “A Viva Voce” was presented, consisting of tenors Flavio Fumaneri, Luciano Kahla and Hernán Quinteros; and various local artists. To ensure security conditions throughout the event, a preventive operation was carried out consisting of the Tigre Emergency System (SET), Transit and Civil Defense, coordinated by the Tigre Operations Center (COT).

In Tigre, the Virgin has been venerated every December 8th since 1854, and from 1949 the nautical procession has been part of the celebrations. In 2007, thanks to the parish’s joint work with the Catholic community, the celebrations gained prominence and the religious values ​​of the commemoration were regained with a public profile.