The Well Appeared
When is it celebrated
The solemnity of Our Lady of the Good Aparecida is celebrated every year on 15 September. The religious date is fixed; Programmes can begin the day before and vary in times and activities. In 2025, for example, public programming covered Sunday, 14 September and Monday, 15 September.
Is it a holiday or a working day?
It is a regional public holiday in Cantabria when it is incorporated into the official calendar. The Cantabrian Government and the state resolution on public holidays include Tuesday, 15 September in the 2026 calendar. As the selection of non-working days is approved for each year, it is advisable to check the work calendar for the specific year before organizing trips or closures.
Origin and geographical link
It is a celebration typical of Cantabria, closely linked to the sanctuary located in Hoz de Marrón, within the municipality of Ampuero and in the Asón valley. The invocation is patron saint of Cantabria and the diocese of Santander; Its day combines a Marian solemnity with a pilgrimage that expresses regional identity and folklore.
Regular events
The usual core is the pilgrimage to the sanctuary, the masses and the solemn Eucharist, accompanied by a pilgrimage in the fields and performances of Cantabrian folklore. Recent programmes also include a wreath offering and a torchlight procession on the eve, as well as concerts or festivals in Ampuero. These complementary events and their schedules depend on the annual programme.
Usual duration of events
The main day occupies a good part of 15 September: the religious celebrations begin early in the morning and the pilgrimage takes place during the morning and midday. In some years the festive cycle extends to two days, with events from the afternoon and evening of the 14th and popular proposals during the night of the 15th; There is no single schedule valid for all editions.
Traditions and history
The Diocese of Santander places the origin of the devotion on 15 September 1605, when a small Marian image was found in a window of the old hermitage of San Marcos. The carving, in Flemish Gothic style and small in size, gave its name to the dedication after a conflict with the nearby Virgen de la Mar. The influx of faithful led to the current sanctuary being built at the beginning of the 18th century. In 1905 the Virgin was declared patron saint of the diocese and the region; The pilgrimage, the liturgy, traditional music and coexistence in the fields keep that memory alive.
Where is it celebrated
The centre of the festival is the Sanctuary of the Well Appeared Virgin and its fields, in Hoz de Marrón, municipality of Ampuero. The main religious events and pilgrimages take place there. Ampuero also hosts popular activities in spaces such as the Plaza Mayor, while labour conditions affect the whole of Cantabria when it appears in the regional calendar.
Who participates
Pilgrims and devotees from different parts of Cantabria, neighbors and visitors, the Trinitarian community that guards the sanctuary, the Diocese of Santander and its bishop, as well as folk groups and artists from the popular programme participate. The Ampuero City Council and public organisations of Cantabria intervene in the programming, promotion and services associated with the celebration.