San Juan de los Lagos receives 4 million pilgrims per year who come to visit the downtown cathedral of Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos and stay an average of 1.1 days. This keeps the 83 hotels with 760 rooms full to capacity on week-ends and national holidays, leaving many pilgrims to sleep on hostels, sidewalks, and town squares.
The 4 million pilgrims arrive to San Juan de los Lagos in a series of pedestrian, cyclist or horseback processions which take days, weeks or months to arrive to the second most visited cathedral in the nation. The city streets are also lined with pilgrims who cover a long distance on their knees with the help of relatives who extend cushions in their path up to the altar of the cathedral.
Most of the population of San Juan de los Lagos is associated in one form or another with the cathedral. The streets come alive every night when food vendors line the streets. Most week-ends the town squares are filled with live music and fire work displays, making San Juan de los Lagos also a popular destination from nearby towns and ranches.
Some of the walkers had no back packs at all and I understand they are treating to food and drink along the route and sleep where ever they can. It was very thought provoking to see hundreds of people making this trek. In fact when we took Janet and Malc to Mexico City last week we also saw walkers there making their way, they had a long walk.
Then is was back home for breakfast and to get changed to go to the Quincianera!!
In the Mexican tradition, the celebration is a festive gathering with relatives and friends. Sometimes a church mass is celebrated in honour of the birthday girl. To most Mexicans, the "Quinceaños" celebration marks the transition from girlhood to young womanhood, and is the time when a "niña" (girl) is to begin being referred to as a "señorita" (Miss). Sometimes the ceremony is confused to represent the transition from from girlhood to womanhood. However, in the social Mexican traditions girls become officially recognized as a "señorita" until they are 24, at which time they may be referred to as "mujeres" (women). As in most Latin cultures, Mexican families proudly celebrate the fifteen birthday for girls as an entry in to young womanhood.
Typically the celebrant's court is comprised of Godparents and a young gentleman known as “Chambelan," the Quinceañera’s companion and date for the evening. The Chambelan's sole purpose is to have the first dance with the Quinceañera, a traditional ballroom waltz called a "Vals". This dance tradition is based on the mixed of Mexican, French, Spanish and English ballroom dances, and is imbued with the symbolism of the Roman Catholic church. It is uncommon not to have the blessings of a church or priest who offers mass before the Vals Celebration.
The Chambelan initiates the Vals by requesting a dance with the Quinceañera to a classical song, followed by dances requested with her by her father or another close male relative such as an uncle or older brother, and then her Godfather. Normally, the Quinceañera rehearses with the Chambelan to be more presentable for the guest and family. Following these initial presentation dances, the guests join the dance floor as well.
Godparents play a significant role in the preparations for the Quinceaños, often handling arrangements for the party church, and celebration. The event is the culmination of their responsibilities to the church to oversee the religious upbringing of the girl, and thus they are a core part of the family in the celebration, and traditionally remain lifelong close friends of the family.
Influence of mixed modern life has changed some of the celebrations, but for many Mexican Families, they still preserve these traditions, and the common goal of celebrating the young woman's fifteenth birthday and acknowledging her transition to young womanhood.
This was taking place at Santa Julia and I was honoured to be invited.
It was a lovely sunny morning and the flowers and fruit in the garden looked so lovely.
Guess who were there to greet me?
These two kids are amazing it seems like we have known each other for years, they just take my hand and away we go.
The first part of the ceremony is a blessing in the beautiful chapel they have on the property.
The kids get settled in.
Here is Maria the star of the day and it was actually her 15th birthday today!!
She looked stunning!!
The service was lovely and all the girls were quiet and good.
I am not sure of the family dynamics but Maria, here with her two sisters and brother and Mum and Aunt. Maria and her sisters have been at the home for 9 years.
The incredible 4 Madres that make this place the loving and caring place that it is.
What a thrill this was for me!!
Then it was downstairs for refreshments, what a great job the girls did of decorating the hall.
I am so glad that I was able to be a part of this loving and important day for Maria.
Next came the really hard part, saying good bye to my two girls. I had bought them a few gifts including a photograph frame with a photo of Paola and me and Daniela and me and some other photographs for them to keep. The Director, Robin, was there and she translated and told the girls that I was their special friend and that I was going away but would be back in March to see them again. I know I can e mail them and have Robin pass the messages on for me.
I could go on for hours about how these girls and this Santa Julia home have changed my life but suffice it to say I feel so lucky and blessed to have them in my life.
Next stop was a local hotel where a fund raiser chilli cook off was taking place. It was very busy and lots of things to see and do, except for me the chilli was photographed and not tasted.
Lots of people..
Even a small rodeo ring in the hotel complex
There is a lady who lives in SMA, Babs, who has a great blog which I read, she also reads mine so we arranged when I came here to meet but because of illness on her part that was not able to happen till this afternoon, when we met in the main garden. It was nice talking to her then another lady came and sat next to us and joined our conversation. Barb and I just smiled this lady was so sweet, 90 years old and comes here every winter.
My last day is tomorrow and bright and early Monday morning Ramona and I continue on our journey towards the west coast. I may not be able to post every day due to lack of Internet connection but will do my best.
Thanks to you all for taking the time to read my account of everyday life, have a great weekend, blessings Les
1 comment:
It was an absolute delight to meet you. I sat and visited with Corinne for a while longer and then reluctantly said goodbye to her - what a sharp woman!
Have fun on your adventures!
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