21st of March - Birth of Don Benito Juarez
Don Benito Juarez Garcia was born in San Pablo Guelatao, Oaxaca on the 21st of March 1806. His parents were Zapoteca Indians, Marcelino Juarez and Brigida Garcia. At the age of 8, Benito was orphaned and went to live with an uncle, and worked with him in the fields. At 13 he went to live with his sister, Josefa, and learnt Spanish; up to this point he only spoke Zapoteca dialect.
With the help of Brother Antonio Salanueva, his sister Josefa and Don Antonio Maza, he entered the Seminary of Santa Cruz, and finished a degree with excellent qualifications.
In 1834, at the age of 28, he graduated as a lawyer, affiliated himself with the Liberal Party, and commenced a brilliant career in the public life of Oaxaca. He occupied the successive posts of deputy, civil judge, government secretary, and finally Governor between the years of 1847 and 1852.
Benito Juarez married the daughter of his patron, Margarita Maza, on July 31st 1843.
In December of 1857, the Plan de Tacayuba launched by Felix Zuluaga, to abolish the constitution. President Comonfort, his rule threatened, had Benito Juarez imprisoned for a short time. Juarez was eventually freed and established an interim government in Guanajuato. For a time there were 2 governments in the country, one Conservative and reactionary residing in the capitol led by Zuluaga, and the other, Liberal and led by Juarez. For 3 years these governments fought, until 1861 when a triumphant Liberal army entered the capitol and Juarez was elected the constitutional President.
After establishing his power in Mexico City, Juarez was then confronted with a series of International problems. He suspended payments of the foreign debt, which elicited reactions from France, England and Spain. France decided to send troops by the order of Napoleon III, and faced with the superiority of the French troops, Juarez was driven back to San Luis Potosi, and finally the Northern borders where he continued to wage war against the French. Finally, the invaders were beaten back, and Emperor Maximilian was shot by firing squad along with his generals.
Juarez returned to the capitol and soon after was re-elected to the position of President of the Republic of Mexico. His return, however, provoked some division, and resistance from the area of the Yucatan, and died June 18th 1872. He was a proud man, remembered for his Liberal beliefs and the way in which he fought for the Mexican constitution and freedom from foreign dominators. He rose from being the son of Indians to the presidency of the country he loved, and we remember this on the anniversary of his birth, March 21st.
Lent
During Lent, (Cuaresma in Spanish), everything is much more reserved. There are no fiestas, and religious observers refrain from eating meat on Fridays. The period of 40 days, representing Christ's temptation in the desert, is marked by abstentions and self-sacrifice. Many give up something, or go without, in order to appreciate their good fortune at other times. There are special foods that are prepared during Lent, which are traditionally only eaten at this time. Fish dishes are prevalent, chicken served in Mole sauce for example, or Capirotado, made with fried Bolillo (type of bread), tomato, cinnamon, onions, cloves and peppers. You could have Chiles Rellenos or any one of a dozen fish dishes served with chiles or nopal (cactus). Lent ends with the Easter celebrations, which in Ajijic are marked with the Passion Play and various religious celebrations. Be sure to try specialty dishes for Lent, prepared at Azul Frieda for the duration of the 40 day observance.
