The Fiestas Patrias
Mexico focuses the tricolor spotlight of the country's independence onto her most familiar icons during the mid-September Fiestas Patrias (Patriotic Celebrations). During a succession of celebrations, parades, old-fashioned serenades in the plaza, food fairs, rodeos, and greased pig contests and fiestas, Mexico trots out all of the country's symbols in a glorious five-day photo opportunity.
You'll want to recharge your camera's batteries and take a nap or two so that you can be on hand to snap great shots of the handsome mariachis in silver-studded suits, the local ladies ages 4 to 84 strolling the plaza wrapped in traditional rebozos (shawls), the charros and their finely curried steeds in two parades plus demonstrations of their riding, roping and bull riding finesse, and a battle waged on the plaza with flying flowers and cascarones (confetti-filled egg shells).
From a footrace, a bicycle event, and kids climbing a greased pole to folkloric dancers twirling in a free plaza performance and stunning queen candidates, there is something for everyone. Throw in a few bands, the red, white and green bunting-draped buildings and parade route streets covered with canopies of hand-cut paper garlands, and all you need to complete this fiesta picture is a sip of tequila, a rousing national anthem, some fireworks, patriotic speeches, noisemakers and clanging bells ringing out the sounds of freedom and you're celebrating Independence Day in Mexico—where it's a combination of the 4th of July, Canada Day, the county fair and New Year's Eve, all rolled up into one splendid celebration.
Here's the Rundown on the 2008 Fiestas Patrias Events:
August 23 - Presentation of Queen Candidates, Food Fair and Popular Dance
8 p.m. The Fiestas Patrias Queen Candidates will be introduced in ceremonies at the Ajijic Plaza. During the evening , supporters of each of the candidates will be selling various homemade foods in stalls set up around the plaza. The income from this Verbena Popular (Food Fair) will help promote the candidates, as pesos count as votes in this competition, with the proceeds offsetting some of the costs of the celebration.
A traditional Banda de Viento (unamplified band) will be playing in the plaza for the dance that will complete the evening.
A traditional Banda de Viento (unamplified band) will be playing in the plaza for the dance that will complete the evening.
September 7 – Carrera Pedestre (foot race)
10 a.m. The annual foot race has the starting and finish lines at the town plaza.
10 a.m. The annual foot race has the starting and finish lines at the town plaza.
September 13 – Exposition of Gigantic Tissue Paper Hot Air Balloons
2 p.m. One of Ajijic's most treasured customs is the annual creation and launching of dozens of tissue paper hot air balloons. Fueled by a ring of rags soaked in kerosene, some of the enormous creations sail high above the soccer field at the corner of the highway and Calle Revolución. If the travel arrangements can be successfully completed, the hot air balloon-making masters from the village of Athenco in the state of Mexico will attend this year's Ajijic Regata de Globos and demonstrate their finest efforts.
September 14 – Day of the Charro Parade, Dancing Horses, Charro Event
1 p.m. Promenade of the Charros through the plaza, followed by a parade through town
4 p.m. Charro events and bull riding at the Lienzo Charro (rodeo ring) on Revolución.
6 p.m. Dancing at Lienzo Charro.
6 p.m. Dancing at Lienzo Charro.
September 14 – Traditional Parade of the Shawls
6 p.m. In one of Ajijic's oldest and most treasured events, a full assembly of mariachis will accompany the promenade of the ladies of the village as they stroll around the plaza in a style show of traditional rebozos (shawls). With tiny tots, beautiful young girls and ladies of all ages, there's a photo a minute as these damas swirl their full skirts and dainty fans as they circle the kiosk to the romantic music of the mariachis.
September 15 – Flag Salutes, Children's Games, Mariachi, Ballet Folklorico, Grito and Fireworks
6 a.m. Flag raising ceremony
6 p.m. Flag retiring ceremony
4 p.m. Children's contests include a greased pole climb, other typical games with prizes
7:30-11 p.m. You'll not want to miss this Independence Day Eve production of events. The evening begins with a Ballet Folklorico troupe—at press time a top notch group from Guadalajara was expected to perform. The mariachis take the stage in time to accompany the competition of eager local singers, and then remain on hand to play during the coronation of the Fiestas Patrias Queen, the presentation of the flag and the singing of the Mexican National Anthem.
11 p.m. -?? At least once in your time in Mexico, you will want to experience the Grito.
The countdown to the reenactment of Father Hidalgo's famous call to arms builds as much anticipation on the crowded plazas and squares of Mexico as does the countdown of the ball in Times Square on New Year's Eve. At the conclusion of the short bit of rhetoric, the Delegado ends his speech with cries of Viva Mexico! To which the crowd roars the response VIVA. Some years the cheers are enlarged to include Jalisco, Chapala, Ajijic, America, before the patriotic colors of the fireworks begin painting the sky. Stay, if you wish to while away the wee hours with the younger set, dancing to the music of Octavio Elizalde y su Banda Membrillelgo.
September 16 – Flag Salutes, Parade, Soccer Tournaments, Bulls, War of Flowers
6 a.m. Flag raising ceremony
10 a.m. Independence Day Parade begins at the Lienzo Charro, proceeds through Ajijic on Constitución and Ocampo to Six Corners and then returns to the plaza on Hidalgo. Streets of the parade route will be canopied with garlands of red, white and green papel picado (cut tissue paper banners). The parade ends with great celebration and festivities in the plaza.
11 a.m. After the parade, area school children will perform traditional folkloric dances on the stage in the plaza.
12 noon. The annual soccer tournament will start on fields 1 and 2, both located on Revolución in Ajijic.
4 p.m. Traditional events in the Lienzo Charro include exhibitions of bull riding and roping, accompanied by a popular band.
6 p.m. Flag retiring ceremony
8 p.m. Trophies are awarded to winning soccer teams in the town plaza
8:30 p.m. Battle of the Flowers. Another of Ajijic's very old traditions was revived during last year's celebration of the Fiestas Patria and is being scheduled again this year. As the Fiestas Patrias Queen and her court promenade around the plaza, they will be showered by confetti and flower petals, some of which will be inside gaily colored cascarones (confetti-filled egg shells). Pelting friends and family members with the confetti egg shells is always a playful activity on the plaza, but on this night, it turns into a battle between the various barrios, all of whom are armed with enormous numbers of cascarones. If you've never experienced one of these battles at an area wedding or in the plaza, you've got to see this event to believe it.
9 p.m. The Fiestas Patrias ends with an typical Sunday night dance to a traditional banda in the plaza
Similar events will take place in Chapala and Jocotepec on these dates. The smaller villages, including San Antonio Tlayacapan, San Juan Cosalá, San Nicolás de Ibarra usually schedule their parades, gritos, queen presentations and other events for the weekend after the 16th of September so as not to compete with the larger events in neighboring towns.
