11282014Fri
Last updateFri, 28 Nov 2014 4pm
Eager Realty

Ajijic cranks up for San Andrés fiestas

Ajijic’s boisterous salute to spiritual patron Saint Andrew the Apostle kicks off Friday, November 21, continuing on a festive roll for the rest of the month.

The fiestas patronales encompass a full agenda of traditional religious and secular activities centered at the San Andres parish church and the village plaza. The celebration will be punctuated at regular intervals by barrages of noisy sky rockets and fueled by heavy consumption of liquid spirits.

The prelude to the festivities is a traditional procession of carros alegóricos (scenic floats) that will travel around the center of the town Friday afternoon starting at around 5 p.m. Different village neighborhoods and church organizations will craft the rolling scenery and provide actors to depict biblical or sacred themes.

The procession customarily starts on Calle Galeana at the rear entrance of the church, turning west on Zaragoza, south on Aquiles Serdan and heading back to the church via Ocampo-Constitución.

The annual celebration goes into full-tilt party mode on November 22, a date that coincides with el Día de Santa Cecilia, patron saint of musicians.

The sponsoring gremio (guild) for each day’s activities gather at dusk to lead a candlelight parade that travels along Calle Hidalgo from Seis Esquinas to the entrance of the San Andres church as the lead in to the evening Mass.

Aside from the religious angle, the fiestas provide a framework for plenty of secular revelry centered at the town square following evening church services. Throngs gather to socialize, chow down typical snacks, fuel up on firewater and dance to the beat of live bands.

Each evening caps off with a towering castillo fireworks display set up inside the church atrium for a fiery blast off between 10:30 and 11 p.m.

The celebration invariably draws itinerant street vendors who set up stalls to hawk native crafts, glittery trinkets, clothing, toys and household utensils.

Once the festivities get going, motorists will have to bypass central thoroughfares and find alternate routes to reach many destinations in town. Calle Colón will remain closed until the end of the year, as street improvements are scheduled to commence as soon as the fiestas end.