Our Lady of Carmen de Cuyo Festival is celebrated every year in the town of Rivadavia in the homonymous district, province of Mendoza. The date is around July and August after the first half of July, with the 8 September, the day that commemorates the Virgen del Carmen, Patroness and General of the Army of the Andes.
The celebration includes the principal Mass in the Chapel Green, but first gauchos procession is from the Traditionalist Center to the chapel, carrying the sacred image of the Virgin. After holding a free community lunch of Creole food such as locro, prepared by people of Rivadavia it is performed.
Singing and dancing, local bands of folk, cumbia, and different national gender chamamé, troupes, dance groups and all that is traditional Gaucha Party: Once the lunch ended the celebrations begin. Many people approach Rivadavia to witness and be a part of these religious celebrations, which have a long tradition in the province.
The Virgen del Carmen de Cuyo was highly revered by General Jose de San Martin, who named both his Army Generala. San Martin offered his baton before starting the liberation campaign, and both the staff and the letter of the Liberator relics are preserved in the chapel of the Virgin in the Temple of San Francisco. The Virgin also was declared Patroness of the 8th Mountain Brigade.
