December 8 commemorates the anniversary of the apparition of the Virgin Mary to a Guarani Indian named José who had been converted to Christianity by Jesuit missionaries.

It has become a day of pilgrimage for Paraguayans, who venerate the figure of their patron saint, the Virgin of Caacupé, to which miracles are attributed and made to the depositary of hopes to overcome material and spiritual contingencies. From all over the country, pilgrims descend to this small town in central Paraguay of Caacupé to fulfill promises made to the Virgin and to commemorate the anniversary of a holy apparition.

The story begins not in Caacupé but nearby in an area that was to become the town of Tobatí. There a young Indian named José was trying to escape from his enemies. He tried to hide in the woods but was sure he would be caught and killed.

Eventually he was cornered beneath a tree and expecting to be captured, he prayed for assistance.  On doing this, the Virgin Mary appeared in the sky to him, and his foes passed by not seeing him even when he was right in front of them.  News of the escape and the saving reached nearby missionaries and José, after converting to Christianity, carved and painted the statue in thanks to the Virgin Mary for saving his life.