Cowboys, bull fights, church services, baptisms, feasting
and parades starting November 29th and lasting into the first week
of December; this year, we finally have an inkling of what it all means. It’s the Feast of the Virgin of the Immaculate
Conception.
This is an important
celebration throughout Latin America, but doubly important to Isleños as she is also
the patron saint of the island.
Recently, we were chatting with an island acquaintance,
Jorge, and he tried to give us a sense of what this event means to
local people.
 |
| Beautiful horses and thirsty cowboys. |
Every village, city, or town
has its own patron saint who people hope will watch over them and their
families throughout the year, bringing good health and prosperity to
everyone. Local people offer prayers, food
or gifts to the patron saint, hoping to attract her goodwill. This is also the
time of year when many children are baptized or confirmed into the Catholic Church. It is also the start of a six-week-long celebration
that includes The Feast of our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12th, Posadas Navideñas from December 16th to 29th, Noche Buena on December 24th, Christmas on December 25th, and ending in January with the Night of the Kings on January 6th.
And in the northwestern parts of
Mexico, where the drug cartels are powerful, they have their own patron
saint of thieves and drug dealers, San Malverde. Sporting a thick black
moustache, neckerchief and pistol belt, San Malverde does not look like a
typical saint. (I think his name translates to Bad-Green, perhaps a reference to money?) Although he is not recognized by the Catholic
Church, his festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm on May 3rd
in Sinaloa. His popularity among drug
lords is so widespread that his followers have built chapels and shrines in his
honour near the Mexico/US border.
Personally, we enjoy the pageantry of
our local saint with many island neighbours participating in the event. I am always amazed how quickly the year
rolls past us. It just seems like last week
I was snapping photos of the 2011 Feast of
the Virgin of Immaculate Conception parade, complete with island Presidente Hugo Sanchez riding with the cowboys. And here we are again in early December, and
the celebration of the Feast of the Virgin of Immaculate Conception.
_______________________
Esto y lo Otro:
Gladys Galdamez and Susan Stowell have teamed up with other
creative people to open a new retail outlet: Esto y lo Otro, which Google translates as That and the Other. But, I am guessing it means something closer
to This and That.
Take a few extra minutes to browse through
the beautiful jewelry creations!
Tonight at Barlito’s on Isla Mujeres, Kay Cole showcased her first novel,
Lonesome Knob.
It is a novel loosely based on her life growing
up “at the end of a dusty road on a
remote and desolate West Texas farm known as Lonesome Knob.”
Best wishes, Kay, for much
success with your book.
Hasta luego
Lynda & Lawrie
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2 comments:
Wish we were on Isla for those six weeks. We really enjoyed the first half of December last year. Maybe in 2013! Very interesting about San Malverde!
Hi Becky - I was just cruising through your newest photos ..... beautiful as always. You and Craig must do a lot of daytime walking. We are usually out after dark, not so good for fun photos.
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