Zaragozas de Sanare

View on map
Religious & SpiritualSanare
DatesDates TBA · Usually DecemberCheck locally before booking
DurationAnnualEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forCeremony, pilgrimageFew Venezuelan Day of the Holy Innocents
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: VES
CategoryReligious & SpiritualFestival type
The story

Zaragozas de Sanare in Sanare

Every December 28, the town of Sanare in Lara state stages Los Zaragozas, a formally structured Day of the Holy Innocents masquerade in which costumed dancers move through a dawn-to-dusk cycle of processions, Masses, and house visits across town, dancing to the rhythm of the Tamunangue.

Sanare, the capital of Andres Eloy Blanco municipality in Lara state, holds one of Venezuela's most elaborately structured folk-religious celebrations every December 28: Los Zaragozas, a local expression of the broader Day of the Holy Innocents tradition observed in various forms across the country.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Few Venezuelan Day of the Holy Innocents celebrations are as internally organized as Sanare's: the tradition assigns specific roles, including a capitana who custodies the devotional painting of the massacre of the innocents and manages participant registration and fees, a capitan mayor who leads the musicians and maintains order among the disguised dancers, and a capitan menor who assists with coordination and fund collection, giving the celebration a governance structure closer to a guild than a loose folk custom

02

The mystery stays covered

The devotional painting itself, an anonymous oil work sometimes attributed, without confirmation, to the poet, artisan, and photographer Mateo Segundo Viera, sits at the ceremonial heart of the day, with a protective replica made specifically to preserve the fragile original

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Zaragozas trace their name and form to Venezuela's Day of the Holy Innocents customs

Water and renewal

Living ritual

adapted in Sanare into a highly structured local tradition featuring a costume built from a chaparro

The sacred route

Living ritual

or quince-wood staff

The local code

Living ritual

a carrizo reed tube

Tradition 5

Living ritual

a yellow flag

Tradition 6

Living ritual

and a ticket proving payment of the municipal fee required to wear a disguise

Tradition 7

Living ritual

with the entire performance set to the Tamunangue

Tradition 8

Living ritual

the traditional music and dance form most closely identified with Lara state

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually December

Getting around

Move patiently around ceremony routes and leave space for worshippers and participants.

What to wear

Light, comfortable clothing and sturdy walking shoes are sufficient for spectators, since Sanare's highland setting in Lara state keeps temperatures milder than Venezuela's coastal lowlands...

Safety

Watch local behavior before photographing, filming, or entering sacred spaces.

Where to stay

Stay near the part of Sanare you will actually use, or choose a transport base with an easy return after peak hours.

Tickets/cost

Public ritual moments are often free, but donations, transport, or temple access may vary.

Language/currency

VES

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map9.75 N, 69.65 WOpen in Google Maps

Sanare, Lara, Venezuela

Nearest airportBRM — Jacinto Lara
TransportMove patiently around ceremony routes and leave space for worshippers and participants.
Stay areaStay near the part of Sanare you will actually use, or choose a transport base with an easy return after peak hours.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Sanare via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Sanare, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for December.Compare faresFestival gearLight, comfortable clothing and sturdy walking shoes are sufficient for spectators, since Sanare's highland setting in Lara state keeps temperatures milder than Venezuela's coastal lowlands; participants wear elaborate multicolored masks and costumes specific to the tradition.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Venezuela and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

We may earn a small commission from trusted travel partners at no extra cost to you.

FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Zaragozas de Sanare?

Zaragozas de Sanare is listed for December. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Zaragozas de Sanare take place?

The festival is listed in Sanare, Venezuela. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Annual is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Sanare, Lara, Venezuela

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLsanarelab.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually December
Source statusOfficial source linked
Related festivals

Continue the route.

Photo pending

Fiesta de la Virgen de Caacupe

8 December 2026

Caacupe, Paraguay
Photo pending

Grand Magal de Touba

3 August 2026

Touba, Senegal
Photo pending

Romeria de la Virgen de los Angeles

1–2 August 2026

Cartago, Costa Rica
Photo pending

Sydney Royal Easter Show

19–30 March 2027

Sydney, Australia

Spotted something out of date? Submit a correction →