Fiestas

Origins The Feast of the Cross of May has its antecedents in the pre-Christian celebration known as the Festival of the Mayos (or Palo de Mayo, in English maypole), which commemorated the average time of spring by paying homage to nature. In particular, it was celebrated by decorating a tree or by erecting a trunk or totem tree to which ornaments or flowers were put, while performing ritual dances and singing or making recitations. With the arrival of Christianity, this feast was adapted to the new faith, replacing the totem with the Christian cross. In some countries the festivities of the Cruz de Mayo and Palo de Mayo are maintained in parallel. Another interpretation seems to have its origin in the discovery by Saint Helena of the cross where Christ died. The story tells how the emperor Constantine I the Great, in the sixth year of his reign, faces against the barbarians on the banks of the Danube, in a battle whose victory is believed impossible because of the magnitude of the enemy army. At present, the Christian liturgy has eliminated this celebration from its calendar, being unified with the celebration of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, celebrated on […]

From that neighborhood, in the chapel of the 16th century, there is a procession with oxen and mules decorated in bright colors. They take them to the church’s atrium, where the dances of the old, black, Moorish and Maringuías are performed.

It begins with jubilees, novenarians and pilgrimages headed with the image of Christ; accompanied by bands and dances from “Los Negritos”, “Los Viejitos” and “Los Pastores” to the foot of the main altar. San Juan Nuevo is the town founded by the P’urhépechas Indians who were forced to relocate after evicting San Juan de las Colchas (or Old San Juan Parangaricutiro) due to the birth of the Paricutin Volcano. It is known that the Lord of Miracles has faithful followers throughout the country of Mexico, South America and the United States. Throughout the celebrations more than 70 thousand visitors come to be counted. The image belonged to the temple of San Juan Parangaricutiro, the town that buried the Paricutin Volcano in its eruption in the middle of the last century. The image of the Lord of Miracles is made of cane paste, a pre-Hispanic artisan technique originally from the P’urhépecha culture. It represents a Crucified Christ and as in the case of other religious figures elaborated by indigenous hands, he observes a marked care in the representation of the wounds and the gesture of pain caused by the torture. A saying was born in San Juan around the impossible causes, […]

Celebration instituted by Don Vasco de Quiroga. Pilgrimage, pilgrimage, bands, dances, sporting events, popular fair and presentation of the dance of el Señor del Rescate ( the Lord of the Rescue).

For three days (Sunday, Monday and Tuesday) the “toritos” of petate that come from each neighborhood are accompanied by music of chirimía and strings and some characters, such as “el apache”, “el caballito”, “el caporal” and ” the maringuías “.

The city of Valladolid, today Morelia, was founded on Wednesday May 18, 1541 in the valley of Guayangareo, by order of the Viceroy Don Antonio de Mendoza and at the request of several Spaniards settled in Michoacán, with the purpose of having a capital city where reside the civil and ecclesiastical authorities that made possible the administration and the colonial order, which they would denominate New City of Mechuacan, this objective ran into the fierce opposition of Bishop Vasco de Quiroga, who supported the city of Patzcuaro by the ownership of City of Mechuacan. It is until after the death of Bishop Quiroga and already with the name of Valladolid that the headquarters of the ecclesiastical chapter and episcopal chair are moved to this one. Civic ceremony and sports festival organized by schools.

In Uruapan, in the neighborhood of San Juan dances of old people and of negritos are presented. In Santa Fe de la Laguna there is a fair, dance of the Moors and popular music competitions, classical and sones.

In Capula: Music with local bands, exhibition and contest of earthenware of Capula. In Tingambato: The Moors walk the streets. Music and dances, craft exhibition and other events. Market of snacks. In Uruapan: Procession. Dances and fireworks.

Tianguis, music, dances and pyrotechnic games.

September 14 is one of the most important dates for the community of Santa Fe de la Laguna, as a feast is held to the Lord of Exaltation, a crucified Christ carved in the 16th century. In his honor pilgrimages are performed, dances, while the band entertains with festive music.

On September 28, the city of Pátzcuaro is celebrating its birthday – this 2023, four hundred and eighty-nine to be precise -. While as a human settlement it has many more. It is always important to celebrate and remember the fundamentals about this beautiful place, pride of Michoacán, of Mexico and of humanity.