21 de Octubre
San Sebastián neighborhood, Comitán de Domínguez
In the San Sebastián neighborhood, just steps from its namesake church, stands the Hermitage of the Holy Child Jesus, the Founder, a spiritual and historical landmark of the Pueblo Mágico of Comitán de Domínguez. Also known as the House of the Holy Child Jesus, Founder of the Order of the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, this site is both a religious sanctuary and a cultural treasure.
Affectionately called “El Niñito Fundador,” the Holy Child holds a special place in the hearts of the people of Comitán. His feast day is celebrated every October 21, marking the anniversary of his arrival from the state of Puebla in 1944, brought by Mother Mercedes Martín del Campo, beginning a tradition that continues to this day.
Festivities begin the evening before with serenades featuring religious music, mariachis, and marimba, filling the streets of San Sebastián with joy. Outside the hermitage, visitors can enjoy traditional sweets, tamales, atole, coffee, and bread, creating a festive atmosphere of faith and community.
On the main celebration day, Comitán welcomes hundreds of pilgrims from across Chiapas and beyond, who come to give thanks, present their newborns, or simply honor this beloved image. The event is a living expression of devotion and cultural identity that makes the Day of the Niñito Fundador one of Chiapas’s most heartfelt celebrations.
Affectionately called “El Niñito Fundador,” the Holy Child holds a special place in the hearts of the people of Comitán. His feast day is celebrated every October 21, marking the anniversary of his arrival from the state of Puebla in 1944, brought by Mother Mercedes Martín del Campo, beginning a tradition that continues to this day.
Festivities begin the evening before with serenades featuring religious music, mariachis, and marimba, filling the streets of San Sebastián with joy. Outside the hermitage, visitors can enjoy traditional sweets, tamales, atole, coffee, and bread, creating a festive atmosphere of faith and community.
On the main celebration day, Comitán welcomes hundreds of pilgrims from across Chiapas and beyond, who come to give thanks, present their newborns, or simply honor this beloved image. The event is a living expression of devotion and cultural identity that makes the Day of the Niñito Fundador one of Chiapas’s most heartfelt celebrations.
