They create a moving city of all ages, carrying banners, singing songs, chanting, and praying.Īccording to tradition, in 1623 in the town of San Juan de los Lagos a travelling circus performer fell off a high-wire and suffered mortal wounds. Nearly twenty percent of our population will walk from San Miguel and environs, reaching the village after nine days. Their goal is a small shrine to the Virgin Mary. More than three million pilgrims from across Mexico will walk for many days, sleeping in the open, to converge on the small town of San Juan de los Lagos, in the state of Jalisco by Guadalajara. The Virgin of San Juan de los Lagos’ pilgrimage is the largest in the western hemisphere. Town is even called “The Heart of Mexico”.įestivals featuring mass, food and fun will be held on Plaza Civica and at the Temple to Mary of the Light all day. Even today you can gambol the Artisan Market and view many artistic depictions of Jesus, Mary and Joseph’s sacred hearts. Hearts were always valued and the new image of Mary’s heart quickly became popular. Tamales are served in corn leaves representing the baby Jesus in his blankets.įebruary second is also the day to celebrate the Sacred Heart of Mary, a European image of Mary’s heart representing compassion and love the indigenous embraced.īack before the Spanish arrived the indigenous captured prisoners of war with the heart being eaten by the highest priest or ruler. The indigenous Mayans and Aztecs believed corn was a the basis of life. If, on Three King’s Day, you received the hidden baby in the special bread, you host the Candelaria party featuring a mix of indigenous and Catholic beliefs with atole (a corn drink) and tamales. Throughout the month dozens of vendors line the walkways of the park, selling everything imaginable for the garden while there is music, food and dancing among the breathtaking flowering plants. Today in Parque Jaurez the annual spring flower and garden show begins the same day as it has for six decades. By the 17th century indigenous communities brought seeds and bulbs to the churches for special blessings bringing a good harvest and the rains of April and May (now normally dry months). In Pre-Hispanic San Miguel this was the time for rituals to bring rain and plentiful crops in honor of Tlaloc, the God of Rain. Since here in San Miguel winter is over, Candelaria itself is the unofficial first day of Spring. The word, Candelaria, comes from the German Kandlemas, when the Germans had mass by candle light to remind folks the darkness of winter will be replaced by the future warmth of Spring. On the third year Jesus is dressed as King of the World, complete with a crown and throne ready to provide miracles. A colored outfit of any shade for the second year. The first year the doll is presented he is dressed in white. Every family has at least one, and there are hundreds of handmade outfits available to dress your baby Jesus in at the markets. Baby dolls of Jesus, called Santo Ninos, are taken to the church to be blessed and kissed by the priest. As happens on September 8 th with both Mary’s birthday and the feast of Our Lady of Lareto (both featuring popular around the town processions, music and parties at two churches on the same square), February second is a big day for multiple reasons.įollowing is a primer for the variety of activities and reasons behind them building up to a big day.Ĭandelaria, groundhog day in the United States, celebrates the day Jesus was first presented in the temple as a Jewish gal like Mary had to wait 40 days after childbirth to go to temple.
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