Fiesta de Santa Bárbara

The sparely populated Pampa de Olaén is a picturesque setting for the annual pageantry of gauchos celebrating the Santa Bárbara Virgen. The simple red roofed chapel is one of the few signs of humans in this locality. The capilla was constructed in the mid 1700's on the vast San Roque estancia. The nearest town is La Falda, which is a distance of 12 miles from the capilla.

The Fiesta de Santa Bárbara is celebrated each year on December 4. Santa Bárbara is known as the protector from lightning. She is associated with the legend of the young lovers who lost their lives at the nearby Cascadas de Olaén. A brief history of the legend and the historic San Roque estancia can be found in my Pampa de Olaén blog post.

View of the Santa Bárbara Capilla from the remnants of the estancia house.

As we traveled the dirt road to the capilla, we passed groups of families and individuals on horseback in their gaucho attire. Most of the gauchos arrived over a period of two hours prior to the start of the ceremonies at noon.

The fiesta officially began with the raising of the flag, singing the national anthem, followed by mass. The service included baptism of three toddlers, a homily, communion, and blessing of the the gauchos and their horses.

Louisa's sister Susana, singing the national anthem.

After the blessing of the gauchos, a procession began with people on foot, followed by the gauchos on their horse.