The Full Name of Los Angeles Revealed: A Rich History. Los Angeles, the City of Angels, is a place of sun-kissed dreams, Hollywood glamour, and rich cultural heritage. But few people know that this iconic city has a full name that’s as poetic as it is lengthy. In fact, the official name of Los Angeles is a mouthful: “El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciuncula.” This beautiful and evocative name holds secrets of the city’s fascinating past, and uncovering its meaning is a journey worth taking. Let’s delve into the story behind LA’s full name and discover the history, mythology, and symbolism that make it so unique.
Los Angeles, the City of Angels, has a name that’s steeped in history and rich in symbolism! The full name, “El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciuncula,” is a testament to the city’s Spanish and Mexican heritage. It translates to “The Town of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels of Porciuncula,” which reflects the city’s founding by Spanish missionaries and its original purpose as a small village.
The name also honors the Virgin Mary, Queen of the Angels, and the Porciuncula chapel in Italy, which was a significant pilgrimage site. Over time, the name was shortened to simply “Los Angeles,” but its full name remains a fascinating glimpse into the city’s past.
Today, Los Angeles is a vibrant, diverse metropolis that’s home to people from all walks of life. Its name serves as a reminder of the city’s complex history, cultural influences, and the enduring spirit of its founders. Whether you call it LA, the City of Angels, or “El Pueblo,” Los Angeles remains a place of dreams, creativity, and endless possibilities!
Establishment
In 1542, Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, with a commission from Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza, was the first European to sail and explore the coast of California. Remaining under the sovereignty of the Viceroyalty of New Spain of the Spanish Empire, no colonization efforts were made for over two hundred years. Concerned about expansionist efforts by the Russians and the French. Spain put plans in place in the 1760s to disperse any attempts at occupation and to consolidate the territory.
Spanish settlement did not reach Alta California until 1769 when José de Gálvez y Gallardo organized the expedition of Gaspar de Portolá. He arrived in the San Diego area from Loreto ( Baja California province, present-day Mexico).
He was accompanied by two Franciscan fathers, Junípero Serra and Juan Crespí, who left records of the expedition. As they journeyed through the area now known as Elysian Park, they encountered a river that flowed from the northwest, past their location, and continued southward.
Crespí named it El Río de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles de Porciúncula . The name derives from Santa Maria degli Angeli (Italian: “Saint Mary of the Angels”), which is the name of the small town in Italy that houses the Porciúncula, the church where St. Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscan order, carried out his religious life.
Here’s the sentence rewritten in active voice:
“Today, we call the river that was once known as Porciúncula the Río de Los Ángeles. Because the name of the future city was a version of this Marian title of ” Queen of Heaven “, several versions of Crespí’s formula would be used for the city, including the extremely long El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora, la Reina de los Ángeles sobre el Río Porciúncula.
The Church of Our Lady Queen of Angels
On August 18, 1814, Father Luis Gíl y Taboada laid the cornerstone for a new Franciscan church amidst the ruins of the original church. The Catholic Church dedicated the completed structure on December 8, 1822.
In 1861, builders reconstructed La Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles, a replacement chapel, using materials from the original church. The authorities added the term Reina to reconcile the name of the church with that of the town. The small chapel, also called “La Placita” and the “Plaza Church”, served the entire Catholic and immigrant community of California as the only church in the vicinity of the city of Los Angeles until the construction in 1876 of the Cathedral of St. Vibiana. The Cathedral of St. Vibiana became the English-speaking parish and “La Placita” became the Spanish-speaking parish. 15”The Plaza Church” still stands today, exhibiting Spanish Colonial and Carpenter Gothic architectural styles.
The Church established a new Diocese of the Two Californias in 1840 to serve the Baja California Peninsula and Alta California, transferring the parish of Los Angeles from the Diocese of Sonora. Both the dioceses of Sonora and the Two Californias were suffragans of the Archdiocese of Mexico.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the full name of Los Angeles, “El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciuncula,” is more than just a mouthful – it’s a window into the city’s soul. It reveals a complex history, a blend of cultures, and a deep sense of spirituality. As we navigate the modern streets of LA, it’s easy to forget the rich heritage that lies beneath our feet. But by embracing the city’s full name, we can reconnect with the past, appreciate the present, and build a brighter future for this vibrant metropolis. So the next time you hear someone say ‘LA,’ remember the angels, the queens, and the tiny village that started it all.
