Here is my Dad
and with his Great grand son Tom!!
I spent the last forty odd years away from England but always kept a close bond with my parents even if I was thousands of miles away…my Dad was very supportive of all my ‘different” life choices and I am sure I get my sporting genes from him…..rest in peace Dad…. I love you!!!
Today is crazy day in SMA…the Locos parade….. below tells you a little about it.
San Miguel de Allende is said to have more fiestas and parades than anywhere else in Mexico. When there is a period on the calendar with no celebrations, they make one up. So it is with El Dia de los Locos, Day of the Crazies, held each year in mid-June.
In the 17th and 18th centuries Catholic priests introduced San Pascual Bailon as the patron saint of field workers and kitchen workers. The newly converted Mexicans celebrated his “day” on May 17 by decorating themselves with tools and other symbols of their labor and dancing to the sounds of pagan flutes and drums.
To keep the paraders and observers separated, some paraders were dressed as scarecrows and their characteristic movements were described as “loco,” i.e., crazy. Somewhere along the way, paraders dressed as clowns replaced the field and kitchen workers, though the music and the dances stayed the same.
San Antonio de Padua’s day was celebrated on June 13th and it had its own dances. But the dances of San Pascual Bailon were so popular that they were also used for San Antonio’s celebration. Gradually the two celebrations melded and are now celebrated as one on the first Sunday following June 13.
Nowadays, neighborhood groups or groups of workers join together to make elaborate special costumes. Some ride on the back of trucks decorated as floats and some march the route. Almost all have bands or recorded music which competes in a glorious cacophony that is so characteristic of Mexico. Early on, the marchers handed out pears to the people along the parade route, but now each group throws candy into the crowd, causing even more noisy mayhem.
Day of the Crazies is Mexico at its best – happy families making noise in a blend of religious and pagan celebrations. Just one of the reasons San Miguel is now in the top ten of tourist destinations worldwide!
Cannot capture in words or by photos the magnitude of this event I have never seen so many spectators and participants it was truly amazing. I picked up Paola and was loaded with drinks and food and we found a good vantage point…enjoy the photos and try to imagine watching with ear splitting music and kid’s laughter and joy as they grab for the 1000’s of candies that were thrown their way!!
Guess who????
It was about a three hour parade really crazy but we enjoyed it but not fighting the crowds to get back home!!!!
Paula sent these photos to me today of her Jer enjoying the hot tub and feeding the chipmunk
Guess from Jer’s face where the chipmunk fell?????
Happy to report the chipmunk was rescued and is doing well but for Jer’s face…we are not too sure!!!
Memory lane today is from my 2011 cross Canada/USA tour and in Otter Lake, Ontario with two of the nicest people you could ever wish to meet Doll and Bob…..you know about my friend and good buddy Ken…. well Doll is his Sister and I stayed with them for a few days and they treated me like royalty!!!
Right outside their cottage!!!
Yashi Koshi!!!
2 comments:
Very special for you to spend Father's Day with one of your girls. It looks like a fun event. Ya just gotta love Mexico!!!
It sure was i am STILL chuckling at Jer...lp
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