Pilgrimages to Luján in History

Abstract

In Argentina, a humble Image of the Pure and Clean Conception that stood on the banks of the Luján River, has attracted crowds in its nearly four centuries of history. In this article we will present an outline of the histórica! process of these pilgrimages. We will begin with a brief reference to the pilgrimages of the eighteenth century. Then we will move on to the truly multitudinous phenomenon that began with the arrival of the railroad to Luján. The stage of the great pilgrimages begins in 1871, with the First General Pilgrimage o f Catholics to the sanctuary o f Luján. In this route it is also worth mentioning the pilgrimage of the gauchos that begins in the mid-twentieth century. Finally, we will present the youth pilgrimage that has been almost half a century of overflowing vitality.