Our Lady of Altagracia Day (Día de la Altagracia) is observed in the Dominican Republic every January 21. This public holiday honors Our Lady of Altagracia, the patron saint and protector of the nation, represented by a portrait of the Virgin Mary painted around 1500. The portrait was brought to Hispaniola by Spanish brothers Antonio and Alfonso Trejo and later donated to the church in Higüey, where the first shrine was completed in 1572. The image was moved to the Basílica Catedral Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia in 1971 and has been crowned by two Popes. The holiday, originally celebrated on August 15, was shifted to January 21 to commemorate the victory over French invaders in 1690. Celebrations typically include all-night vigils, special services, festivals, dancing, and singing.