Tips to Make Your Stay in Gracias a Grateful One

Posted on 06 October 2009

When in a foreign country, it behooves a civilized man to respect the norms, mores and culture of the people that populate the place. After all, you do want visitors to your city or town to do the same, don’t you? And this is true when you are in Gracias, Honduras. You need not worry too much, however, as the people of Gracias are not exactly of the boondocks although the town itself is surrounded by magnificent mountains. With the increasing influx of tourists to the area, you will find that the people know their way around Western traditions. However, it still pays to know of the following facts of life in Gracias and the surrounding areas.
Respect the Religion
No matter your religious beliefs back in your home country, you must respect the strong Catholic traditions of the Hondurans. Keep in mind that Gracias was once the colonial capital in Central America for the Catholic Spanish Empire, thus, the Catholic spirituality. Religious festivals like the Holy Week and the fiestas in honor of the patron saints, which in Gracias’ case is that of Saint Mark on April 25 every year, are celebrated with great enthusiasm and spiritual fervor. Visitors are treated to the sights and sounds of colorful processions passing through town during Maundy Thursday and Holy Week. Easter Sunday is the day for festivities when the hot springs are brimming with families and friends spending quality time.

In acknowledgement of such a strong religion, you will find three churches in the area. Only the San Marcos Church, however, is the only functioning place of worship, not to mention the largest in Gracias. The other two – La Merced and Iglesia de Santa Lucia – are worth a visit. Take note, however, that there are no bus services on Good Friday, New Year’s Day and Christmas Day so better stay put wherever you may be during these times and just enjoy the holidays, Honduran-style.

Celebrate the Culture
As is true in other places, food in Gracias is a delicious reflection of the culture as a whole. Although you will find stand-alone and in-house restaurants serving international cuisine from pizza to hamburgers, you should try the local fare. You will enjoy tamales, baleadas, carne asada, yuca con chicharrón, maiz and tortillas, and many types of seafood. However, be careful about drinking water from suspicious sources. You can purchase mineral water and the national beer (Salva Vida) to wash down your food. You will be thankful that you did because water-borne diseases are a reality of life for most travelers outside of their home country.

The people of Gracias also celebrate Lempira’s Day on July 20 every year, with more fervor than the rest of the country considering that Gracias is the capital of the Lempira Department. Lempira Day, by the way, is celebrated in commemoration of Lenca Indian Chief Lempira who united Lenca people against the Spaniards in the early 1500s.

Locals celebrate by staging colorful parades of schoolchildren in ingenious costumes ranging from the Spanish conquistadors and Indian chiefs to modern-day cowboys, setting up booths in the various parks, organizing rodeos and concerts, and having loads of fun family activities.

Indeed, Gracias has many things and activities to offer its visitors for which everybody will be thankful to be part of.

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