A busy 3 weeks ahead

Carnaval rides

Castillo

The San Patricio - Saint Patricks week long celebration is supposed to start 10 days before Saint Patricks Day ..... and that would mean it starts tomorrow the 7th. Then we have the last day of school on Friday to start the Semana Santa vacation and that is for two weeks.

The carnival rides are set up in their usual place and I assume are open this weekend but I haven't been downtown at night. I'm not sure when is the big final Castillo night .... and there might be one almost every night. In the past, most of the surrounding communities will take their turns building the Castillo structure so there is lots of variety. After the San Patricio party, Melaque will be flooded with Semana Santa vacationers. I suggest getting all your important business taken care of before the craziness. 

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Guadalupe day, December 12, is Mexico’s most important religious holiday. On this day people from all over Mexico travel to the chapel Tepayac Hill in Mexico City, where the mother of Jesus is said to have appeared before an Indian peasant named Juan Diego back in 1531. Mary told Juan to go to the bishop and ask that a church be built on the hill so she could be close to her people. The bishop, needing proof of this vision, asked Juan to have a miracle performed by Mary. Juan returned to Tepayac Hill and found roses growing where there had only been cacti. Juan wrapped the roses in his tilma (cape) along with a picture of Mary to show the bishop. He was convinced and the chapel was built.

This hoilday has one of the longest celebrations, starting about a week before the 12th with cohetes (fireworks) early morning, evening and just about any time somebody feels like it. In Melaque there will be parades, school activities and feasting on the 12th.