Without doubt one of our favourite dates on the estancia calendar is February 2nd. Every year on the same date, our local church 'La Estancita' hosts a fesitival known as 'La Candelaria', a homage to the Virigin Mary. Mass is followed by a procession around the stations of the cross. A statue of the Virgin Mary is carried by worshippers, and those on foot are followed by gauchos on horseback, with both the riders and horses dressed in their finest. We always attend with our guests and feel really privileged to witness this truly local event. Of course we particularly enjoy seeing the horses, the gaucho tack, and the family nature of the event, with 'mini-gauchos' riding their own horses on the front of the saddles with their fathers, brothers and sisters. Definitely one for the diary!