The Festival of Saint Michael Archangel is the most important religious celebration for San Miguel de Allende.
As every year, it will take place from Friday, September 30 to Sunday, October 2 at the main square in downtown San Miguel, featuring the traditional “Alborada festivity”, along with several other activities, such as parades, food stands, folkloric dance and music.
The festivities kick off with the arrival of the “Stars”, a colorful parade where people disguise with exotic customs, culminating around 2:30 pm on Friday, September 30.
Traditional dancers (concheros) in SMA during the St. Michael Archangel festivities (Image: Google)
Alborada literally means “Dawn”, therefore, on Saturday October 1st, at 4:00 am the real “Alborada celebration” begins with mariachis serenading St. Michael Archangel.
Fireworks during the Alborada festivity (Image: Google)
Local people and visitors gather to witness a spectacular explosion of thousands of fireworks that morning, as the “Alborada” starts. And then comes the moment when the traditional “Mañanitas” are sung in honor of Saint Michael Archangel.
Mojigangas, the traditional enormous paper mache hollow figures (worn by paraders) were displayed along the edges of the Jardin. These also are the most creative of crafts indigenous to Mexico. (Image: Google)
The celebration continues at 11:00 am, with several musical groups and the “Burning of Judas“, an activity where mock-up dolls made with paper “mache” are burned. As part of the show, the “Papantla Flyers” present their traditional “dance in the sky”.
At 5:00 pm, a procession takes place along on the main streets of San Miguel known as the entrance of the “spirits” (ánimas). Featuring the traditional Xúchiles, regional and foreign dances, parade floats, marching bands and masquerades.
Additionally, a number of artistic and cultural events will be held during the day, such as the “concheros“, a traditional group of dancers present their colorful and traditional act.
The attendees offer the “Xúchiles” (beautiful offerings made of plants), and the act is never complete without the “mojigangas”, original and huge paper mache hollow figures.
Finally, on October, Sunday 2, the celebration continues along Calle San Antonio and goes through the streets of Zacateros, Canal, Hernández Macías, Mesones, Núñez, San Francisco, Main North Plaza and Portal Allende, ending up at the monument to Fray Juan de San Miguel.
“Xuchiles” all around the Parroquia of San Miguel de Allende. (Image: Twitter)
Mojigangas (unionguanajuato.com)
Source: http://www.unionguanajuato.mx/
