Monday, August 5, 2013

Fiestas Patronales de Ixtlahuacan

 
 
Fiestas Patronales de Ixtlahuacan - 2013

We arrive hungry....what a surprise!
 
This year we were invited to the Fiestas Patronales in Ixtlahuacan by Santiago, Mari and their family.
 
The fiestas revolve around the feast of St. James the Apostle.
 
(from Lake Chapala Review)

Santiago (the Apostle known as St. James the Greater) is the patron saint of the nearby village of Ixtlahuacan de los Membrillos. The nine days of patron fiestas begin July 16 when the people of the neighboring village of Buena Vista arrive carrying a statue of Santiago — riding a horse in Spanish finery and a canteen and Ixtlahuacan’s signature fruit — membrillos (quinces).
 
 
 
 Ivan entertains himself in the church plaza.
 
Awaiting the arrival of Santiago
 
How did James, the apostle become patron saint of Spain and is depicted as an upper class Spanish knight? A dozen legends tell various ways of how the remains of James (who was beheaded in 44 A.D.) were interred in Santiago de Compostela. It became a popular early Middle Ages pilgrimage destination called the Way of St. James. Later legends tell that St. James the Greater miraculously helped the Spanish triumph over the Moors and was nicknamed Matamoros or moor slayer.
 
 
Santiago Arrives at the church
 
 
With cheers, confetti and music, thousands of Ixtlahuacan residents await the arrival of the image of their patron to join in a procession with skyrockets, chants, and prayers and church bells to accompany their saint, St. James, Santiago, the Matamoros, to the church in the center of town.
 
Nine days of fiesta continue — ending on July 25, the feast day of Santiago. During the fiesta, townspeople greet the pilgrimages of the faithful from other area villages including Riberas del Pilar and San Antonio Tlayacapan. As in other towns, the fiesta includes early morning and evening processions to the church, and time for townspeople to gather in the plaza where the children enjoy the carnival rides, the teens dance to the music of the day’s band and the older set catch up with friends and family members. Each evening ends with fireworks — the beautiful towering fixed piece called the castillo or castle.
 
 
 Ivan studying the Castillo
 
 
Building the Castillo
 
 
 Musicos awaiting customers
 
 
Castillo details
 
2 guys festejando
 
Beautiful gift basket of local treasures for Santiago
 
 My guys
 
 Esme y Fco.
 
 
Iglesia de Ixtlahuacan
 
Sistas
 
 Anticipation

As fate would have it, Ivan wanted to take in the carnival rides and asked me to join him.  I noticed no one else volunteered to ride the Ferris wheel with Ivan.....hum?  Once we were locked into our seats the fun began.  Ivan found it amusing to swing our chairs and test their limits.  This also tested my wits....but exhilarating it was!
  
Rueda de la Fortuna
 

 Goin' up!
 
 Castillo at night
  
Watchin' the Castillo
 

  Goodnight.

 
 
 

1 comment:

  1. I love reading your blog even weeks later. I learn so much and feel a part of your lives, community, and celebrations. My brother and sister-in-law and I went to see the movie The Way when it came out a couple of years ago. If you haven't seen it it is about a pilgrimage on the Way of St. James or Santiago de Compostela. We were captivated by the movie and would like to do our own pilgrimage there together. No firm plans yet :)

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