The Gritería Chiquita or Penitencia in León, Nicaragua

On the night of every August 14 in the city of León, the "Gritería Chiquita" or "Gritería de Penitencia" is celebrated on the eve of the festivities in honor of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This Gritería is celebrated in commemoration of the pilgrimage made by the people of Leon in 1947, organized by Bishop Isidro Augusto Oviedo y Reyes, to pray to the Assumption of the Virgin to stop a violent eruption of the Cerro Negro volcano.

Between July and August 1947, the Cerro Negro volcano made a violently explosive eruption, continuously throwing ash and lapilli over León; the ash fall was such that it accumulated in the streets of the city, the tile roofs of the houses collapsed and even the roofs of the imposing Cathedral were in danger of collapsing. For this reason, the bishop of the Diocese of Leon, Isidro Augusto Oviedo y Reyes implored the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary for the cessation of the eruption and promised to hold a "Shouting of Penitence". Surprisingly, on the night of August 14, the miracle was fulfilled and the eruption stopped; since then, every August 14 this popular religious festivity is celebrated as a faithful commitment of the León parishioners to the Virgin of the Assumption.