or Love it or Leave It – when it comes to the Fiestas Patronales
Every town in Mexico has a nine-day annual fiesta honoring their patron saint. The festivals are religious, pagan and secular all at once here in Mexico where contradictions live happily side by side! Whether you will want to join in the fun or head for the hills (or in this case beach) will largely depend on how much you like to party, the proximity of your home to the town square, and your level of noise tolerance.
The Guilds
Ajijic’s patron saint festival honoring San Andres (Saint Andrew) is held every year from November 22-30 with a full program of festivities for young and old, and each day of the festival is sponsored by a different guild:
- November 22 – Musicians’ guild
- November 23 – the town of Ajijic in general
- November 24 – the Catholic Missionary Movement
- November 25 – Domestic Employees, Professionals, Teachers, Beauty workers, Seamstresses Guilds and various businesses
- November 26 – the Carpenters’ Guild
- November 27 – the Farmers’ and Ranchers’ Guild
- November 28 – The Construction Sector Guild
- November 29 – The Gardeners’ and United Workers Guild
- November 30 – The Children of Ajijic Living in the U.S.A.
Although the fiestas officially begin on November 22, on November 21 around 5 p.m. there will be a float procession winding through town and ending at the church. Each day of the festival begins with mass at 6 a.m. , special masses during the day and a pilgrimage from the Six Corners neighborhood in West Ajijic to the plaza every night at 6:00 p. m. Cultural activities, including folkloric dance, bands, etc. will continue each day in the town square until 2 a.m. If you prefer to experience relatively quieter fiesta days, November 22 will feature only local musicians, and there are no big stage activities planned for Saturday, November 24. If you want to join in for only one day of the fiestas, November 30 usually features one of the biggest and best fireworks castillos (castles) sponsored by the Children of Ajijic living in the U.S.A. If you are a fan of the Mexican fireworks castillos, this is a don’t miss event.
Let’s Wrap This Up
So if you’re in the Lakeside area during the Ajijic fiestas patronales, come out and join in the fun or check out the fiestas patronales in any Mexican town. When considering a move to Mexico, make noting where you might want to live in relation to the city noise part of your planning. Ajijic generally has rockets going off almost around the clock for the 9 days of the fiestas, and this can be a real issue if you or your pets are noise sensitive. And if you can’t make in person it this year, enjoy this video of the San Andres Fiesta.
.By Bette Brazel – Focus on Mexico Content Manager
Focus On Mexico offers 6-Day Educational Programs to Ajijic and Lake Chapala, Mexico. Join us and learn why thousands of Americans and Canadians chose to retire in Lake Chapala.
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