Traditions

Mardi Gras is a French word meaning Fat Tuesday. Fat Tuesday refers to eating rich and fatty foods the day before fasting of the Lent Season. Ash Wednesday starts off Lent.  Fat Tuesday is sometimes referred to as Shrove Tuesday from the word Shrive. Shrive means "confess" which relates to the Lent season. Fat Tuesday is the last day of Carnival season, a time of parties and letting go of inhibitions...

The Day of the Dead is one of the biggest holidays in Mexico. It lasts for three days. During that time, people clean up the graves of their departed loved ones and create altars in front of their homes or at the graves. The children run around and trick or treat, just as they do in the States. There are parties and lots of loud bangs of the firecrackers and cohetes. It is believed that the noises scare...

The Ajijic Art Street show was held on October 13th and 14th, Saturday and Sunday. It was a two day event. It started in the morning and lasted until the evening with art, music, dancing, food and fun.  Ajijic is a center for the arts. There were many different kinds of art work on display; oils, acrylics, watercolors, sculptures, photographs, etc. Most of the art work was for sale. All the artists...

The rodeo was scheduled to start at four in the afternoon. Very few people showed up at that time, mostly expats. I am assuming that the Mexicans didn't take an opening time too seriously. As we say in Ajijic, M.T. (Mexican time) or E.T. (Expat time).  This event was on M.T. It didn't open until almost six p.m. But the wait was worthwhile. What else is there to do in Mexico except sit in the sunshine and...

The Mexican Independence Day celebrations actually start on the night of Sept. 15th.  Every plaza in Mexico has  a reading of El Grito de Delores, just before midnight. That is the proclamation that Father Miguel Hidalgo, a Catholic Priest, read in the small town of Dolores in Guanajuto, MX. on Sept. 15th, 1810. This proclamation started the uprising that became a war against Spain. It lasted for eleven...

Every year there is the Regatta de Globos, hot air balloons. It is held in the main soccer field on Revolution street in Ajijic. It is one of the most popular events of the year in Lake Chapala and is always held on the Saturday before Independence day (Sept. 16.).  The Globos are made weeks in advance by various groups of volunteers. Some of them are sponsored by local churches. Some are sponsored by...

Sundays on the Ajijic Plaza are always fun. Many times there are various art and craft shows and events on the plaza. It is a great place to meet up with friends. There is always music, entertainment and lots of fun to be had. Canadian Couple Enjoying Ice Cream on the Ajijic Plaza The Ajijic Society of Arts and Crafts had a show this past Sunday. I love to see all the beautiful things and paintings...

The Day of the Dead is one of the biggest holidays in Mexico, especially in Ajijic and Chapala. It lasts for several days with lots of firecrackers going off day and night, parties, food, parades, and decorations. It is a time when Mexican families get together and communicate with their deceased loved ones. The cemeteries are cleaned up. Each family takes on the responsibility of sweeping and cleaning the...

September 16th, Mexican Independence Day is one of the biggest holidays of the year here. The festivities started a few days before the 16th.  There was so much going on that it was impossible to see it all. Little Girl with Confetti in Her Hair There were festivities at the plaza, parades, and celebrations in the local restaurants, horse events, the shawl parade, private parties and many more...

The hot air balloon race is always held on the Saturday before Independence Day, which is September 16th.   It is held at the soccer field on Calle Revolucion. It is half a block down from El Torito grocery store and the movie theater in Ajijic. This event is the beginning of the Fiesta Season that lasts until after Easter. Life is very exciting at the Lakeside area during this time of the year....