Traditions

The final day of the festivities was on Independence Day, Monday, September the 16th at ten in the morning. That means exactly ten in the morning. One year I arrived a few minutes late and it was already two blocks down the road. This parade always starts on time. I wonder if it has anything to do with all the teachers involved. Mother and child The parade is mostly made up of children marching with...

The final event of the week long Independence Day celebrations was the Combate de Flores (flower war). It was held in the Ajijic plaza at six in the evening on September the 16th, Independence Day. Princess visiting War of the flowers couldn't have been further from it's name. It was a peaceful, low key gathering, especially appreciated after the previous sometimes overwhelming events. Maybe because...

The Independence Day (Fiestas Patrias) celebrations went on for over a week. Starting September 7th with the coronation of the queen and ending September 16th, Independence Day, with the parade. I only made it to a few of them. I missed the flag raising ceremony at six in the morning, the coronation of the queen, the ballet folkloric, the reading of El Grito proclamation at eleven thirty at night, the...

The 2019 Globos festival was held in the Ajijic soccer field on September 8th. You can see the black sky behind Access Lake Chapala's angel globo. Every year there is a possibility of rain. This is the rainy season. But this year there were just a few clouds. It was good luck. Not good luck for this angel. It quickly caught on fire. Angel globo It takes a lot of people to launch a globo. If it isn't...

The Rebozo Parade (shawl parade) is one of the first events in the week long celebrations of Mexican Independence Day. Independence Day is on September 16th. It marks the beginning of the revolt from the Spanish born ruling class. El Grito (the cry) was read on September 16, 1810 by Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. The war ended eleven years later on August 24, 1821. Mexican flags Mexican flag...

La Verbena del pasado, translated into English, means the Street party/dance/celebration/event of the past. And this event celebrates all the food cooked in the past in Mexico. Food that is cooked the traditional way, over an open fire and served in the traditional red clay dishes. Ajijic plaza This all happens at the Ajijic plaza. It is the beginning of Semana Santa, Easter week, Holy Week. It...

The fifth annual "Féria de la Capirotada" was held again at the park along the Ajijic malecon, Saturday, April 6th, 2019. It started at three in the afternoon but this year I went an hour early so I could get photos before the crowd arrived. Stand This event also celebrates the beginning of spring. Capirotada, bread pudding, is only made during the Lenten season, especially on Good Friday....

The sixth annual Sangre Viva Cultural Festival kicked off on Friday evening, March 29th and ran through Sunday, March 31st. 2019.  It was held at the Ajijic Plaza, inside the Ajijic Cultural Center which is also in the Plaza, and at the Ajijic malecon and nearby the malecon. Cleansing Sangre Viva, according to the online translator, means Blood live. One of the online articles about it...

This year, the Mardi Gras parade was on March 5th, Tuesday.  It is always on a Tuesday, the day before Lent. Called Fat Tuesday. It is big celebration before a time of fasting, praying and and sober reflection. The Ajijic parade started on Revolution Street, went down Constution to Six Corners and back to the plaza. There were crowds lining the streets all the way. Float Access Lake Chapala Real...

Once again, the Mexican National Chili Cook-off was held on the Tobolandia waterpark grounds, from February 15, 16, through Sunday the 17th, 2019. This is the 41st annual Chili Cook-Off. In case you don't feel like counting backwards, it started in 1978. Were you here then? I have talked with several people who were here for some of the first ones. They all told me that the Cook-Off was always a...