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At the end of January in Mosquera, a municipality in the Sanquianga region in Nariño, the patron saint festivities are celebrated in honor of San Francisco de Sales, a Savoyard saint from the 16th and 17th centuries whose festival is commemorated on January 24.
The festivities begin to be prepared the previous week with the novena which, accompanied by masses and shawms, begins to prepare the devout and festive spirit in Mosquera. The feast of the patron saint is celebrated with a solemn Eucharist and a large procession.
One of the most representative events of the Mosquera festivities is the balsadas parade, a party on the river in which the Mosquera residents turn their boats into floating altars, decorating them with colored lights, balloons, ribbons and images of San Francisco.
In addition to religious celebrations, sports competitions, concerts with local and national artists, and gastronomic fairs are held during the patron saint's festivities.
Among the latter, the Pacific Traditional Sweets Festival stands out, which rewards the creativity of local cooks in the preparation of different desserts with typical products of the region.
The Patron Saint Festivities of San Francisco de Sales (Fiestas Patronales en Honor a San Francisco de Sales) not only strengthen the sense of community and devotion, but also promote the cultural traditions of Mosquera, making this celebration a space for meeting and collective celebration.
