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jennifer rose

Aug 11, 2003, 9:47 PM

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Fiesta Patronal in Santa Maria (Morelia)

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The Fiesta Patronal in honor of Nuestra Madre la Virgen Maria en su Asuncion a los Cielos is in full swing in (where else?) the Parish of Santa Maria de los Altos. That's probably better known as Santa Maria de Guido, where the first church was erected in 1624.

Starting on the first of August, townfolk have been sitting outside on the sidewalk in front of blazing bonfires every evening in a tradition called "Los Candiles," lighting the path for the Virgen, sipping coffee, greeting others and chatting up a storm. Blue and white banners dance in the summer breezes, at least in front of those houses who remembered. The parroquia's gates are freshly painted. (Oh, all right, we painted them.)

Since last Tuesday, the faithful from neighborhoods throughout the parish have made the pilgrimage.

Saturday night marked the beginning of a new tradition -- opera at the church, thanks to Municipal Secretary of Tourism Salvador Abud, La Parroquia de Santa Maria de los Altos and Padre Salvador Cisneros, and the Comité de Embellecimiento y Desarrollo de Santa Maria de Guido. We sincerely want to make this tradition continue and grow.

But there's more to come. On Thursday, the arches in front of the church will be decorated with flowers, stands selling the best examples of traditional cuisine will set up, the local women spending the entire night cooking up delicious moles, turkey and chicken. Tacos, pambazos, enchiladas, sopes, traditional candies, and freshly fried potato chips and French fries. Yes, there are the juegos mecanicos in the plaza, and the shooting gallery, too. Pink fiesta cake and cotton candy.

Clothing from Guanajuato will be offered for sale (some real deals are promised), along with images of everyone's favorite saint and rosaries.

Thursday evening a procession will walk with the Virgen from the church in downtown Santa Maria to the house of the Guadalupanos, where she will spend the night. And at 5 a.m. on Friday morning, amid fireworks and singing, the town will walk with the Virgen from the Guadalupanos (if you don't know where that is, it's right in front of the water tower across from the federal elementary school) back over to the churchyard, where we'll all sing Las Mananitas before the 6 a.m. outdoor mass. Everyone, and I mean everyone in town except for maybe a handful, will be there. Hot coffee and tamales will be sold outside of the church.

But there's more. A kermesse and a band will play throughout the day. Along with about six more masses, lots of first communions (more than 150 last year), and plenty of action for everyone. And El Torito will be wandering the streets.

At 10 p.m., the castillo will be lighted. Well, that always starts an hour earlier than schedule because of the time-honored tradition of rain on the 15th of August.

There will be traffic, and parking will be very, very tight. Please come, but if you don't live in Santa Maria, plan on taking a taxi.

The people of Santa Maria have worked very hard to produce this fiesta, and we extend a genuine heartfelt welcome to all who attend. (Yeah, we're kinda proud of our town!)