Tuesday, 19 October, 2010

Barra de Navidad and Melaque Events, Fiestas and Celebrations Calendar

Barra de Navidad and Melaque Events, Fiestas and Celebrations Calendar
2010-2011

October 2010

  • Oct: Baby Sea Turtles release in Barra de Navidad Bay. Where: Turtle Hatchery in Malecon of Barra de Navidad. Info: Contact Ecological Group ECOBANA and Cihuatlan Municipality. Note: October release of Baby Turtles article. There are release of baby turtles also in Nov, Dec, Jan. 
  • Oct. 28: 46 days of rosaries dedicated to Lady of Guadalupe begin and end on December 12 with the Lady of Guadalupe Feast Celebrations.

November 2010
  • Nov. 1-2:  Day of the Dead Celebrations. Where: Visits of families to the cemetery in Cihuatlan and mass celebrations at the local churches. Note: Day of the Dead in Mexico post.
  • Nov 6-7: Revolution 100th Anniversary International Golf Tournament 2010. Where: Grand Bay Hotel Isla Navidad and Las Hadas, Manzanillo Colima. More Info.: phone 01-314-337-90-25 or e-mail: pro_golf@inavidad.com.mx.
  •   Nov. 20: Mexican Revolution Anniversary. Parade. Where: Main streets of Barra de Navidad. Note: Revolution Parade 2009 post. Schedule for Parade and Events of the 100th Anniversary of the Mexican Revolution
  • Nov. 21: Anniversary of the Expedition that sailed from Barra de Navidad in 1564 to The Philippines. Where: Malecon Barra de Navidad at 8:00 pm. The Movie "Urdaneta Secret" will be shown in the Main Plaza at 9:00 pm in Spanish and at 10:00 pm in English. There will be a Kermess at the Main Plaza with Jarritos and Mexican Food "Antojitos" to collect funds for the Ambulance. More Info.: Contact Luis Dávila


December 2010
  • Dec 10: Festival Navideño. Christmas parade starts at 5:30 pm in Melaque by Disco Tanga and continues to Villa Obregon and Barra de Navidad. The parade will arrive in Barra de Navidad around 7:00 pm and there will be a Pastorela (a Christmas reenacting scenes of Wise men journey to meet Child Jesus) by the school children at the stage in the Main Square, live music and a Kermess with  Antojitos (Mexican food like tacos, tostadas, etc) and Jarritos (drinks with tequila).
  • Dec. 12: Lady of Guadalupe Feast.  Rosaries, Altars, Novenas, Floats and Parade. Pilgrimages in Barra de Navidad, Villa Obregon, Melaque and Cihuatlan. Where: Cihuatlan, Barra de Navidad, Melaque, Jaluco, Barrio San Felipe de Jesús. More Info: Contact Barra de Navidad Church and Cihuatlan Church. Note: Details of the Celebration in Cihuatlan, Barra de Navidad, Barrio San Felipe de Jesus, etc.
  • Dec. 16-24: Posadas Where: In all the different sectors of Barra de Navidad. More info.:Contact Barra de Navidad Church. Note: Las Posadas and Nativity Scene - Christmas Mexican Traditions in Barra de Navidad post.
  • Dec. 14: Rotary Club Costalegre’s Second Annual Dinner/Auction/Dance. Where: Palapa at Cabo                       Blanco Hotel. Info.: Contact Costalegre Rotary Website for tickets and more information.
  • Dec. 15-19: Festival del Mar Where: Melaque. More Info.: Festival del Mar Melaque Website
  • Dec. 16: Christmas Festival in Cihuatlan. Christmas Carols, Exhibition of Christmas Letters to the Child Jesus written by children, Pastorela and more at the main square of Cihuatlan starting at 5:00 pm.
  • Dec. 24: Noche Buena. Christmas Celebration. In Mexico families celebrate Christmas on Dec 24th. Families and friends organize a traditional dinner and attend mass at night. Christmas presents are exchanged also. Christmas Traditions.
  • Dec 25: Navidad - Christmas Day . Christmas Dinner is served at several restaurants around Barra de Navidad and Melaque.
  • Dec 26: Parade of Lights. Lighted Boat Parade. Boats decorated with Christmas lights will form a parade. Where: Barra de Navidad malecon at 7:00 pm.
  • Dec 31: New Year's dinner is served at different restaurants. New Year's Parties with live music or DJs are organized in different locations like: Cabo Blanco Hotel, Sea Master Restaurant, Ava Restaurant, Restaurant at the Grand Bay Hotel Isla Navidad, Club de Leones in Cihuatlan (Lions Club) etc. 
  • Dec. 31-Jan 02: 11th Cultural and Traditions Festival of Barra de Navidad. Where: Barra de Navidad malecon.
Barra de Navidad XXXVI International Fishing Tournament


January 2011
  • January 6: Reyes Magos / Wise Men Celebration. Traditional "Rosca de Reyes" bread will be for sale in different bakeries and grocery stores. Those who find a baby Jesus doll in their piece of bread must  organize a party on February 2nd. "Dia de la Candelaria" celebration.
  • January 19, 20, 21 and 22: Barra de Navidad XXXVI International Fishing Tournament Sail Fish, Marlin, Dorado and Tuna organized by “Club de Pesca Barra de Navidad A.C.". Where: Barra de Navidad Bay and Grand Bay Hotel Isla Navidad Marina. More info.: Contact Club de Pesca Barra de Navidad.
  • Fishing Tournament "Torneo de Los Amigos". Dec. 31st 2010, Jan. 8th 2011, Jan. 15th 2011, Jan. 29th 2011, Feb. 5th. 2011, Feb. 12th. 2011,  Feb. 19th. 2011, Feb. 26th. 2011, Mar. 5th. 2011, Mar. 12th. 2011, Mar. 26th 2011, Apr. 2nd. 2011, Apr. 9th. 2011, Apr. 16th. 2011. 
  • Jan 27-30: "Fiestas Taurinas" Villa Obregon. Bull Fighting, Rodeo and Music Where: Villa Obregon Bull Fighting ring and Main Square.
  • Jan 30: Rotary Club Costalegre’s Annual Chili Cook-Off. Where: Main Square/Jardín Barra de Navidad. Info.: Contact Costalegre Rotary Website for more information.


International Golf Tournament Grand Bay - Rotary Club Costalegre

February 2011
  • February 2: Día de la Candelaria. 
  • Feb2-5: Barra de Navidad Barrio Patron Saint Festivity. Fiestas Patronales de San Felipe de Jesús en Barrio San Felipe de Jesús en Barra de Navidad. Pilgrimages, Fireworks, Floats, Kermess and Mass. Where: Barra de Navidad Barrio. O. índico and Nueva España streets. More info.:Barrio Chapel. Note: Barrio San Felipe de Jesus Patron Saint Festivity post. Patron Saint Philip of Jesus Festivities 2011 in the barrio in Barra de Navidad.
  • Feb 19: International Golf Tournament Grand Bay - Rotary Club Costalegre. Where: Isla Navidad Golf Course. More Info.: Registration and Fee's no later than Feb. 12th. at progolf@inavidad.com.mx. Grand Bay Hotel Isla Navidad Resort Facebook page info.
  • Feb 20th.: Second Ecological Cycling Marathon Barra de Navidad - El Rebalse. Where: It will start at 9:00 am by the IMSS building in "Brisas de La Navidad" in El Aguacate ending at 10:00 am in El Rebalse. There will be a picnic after visiting El Rebalse river. Teams will be picking up plastic bottles on the highway. More Info.: Contact Sidronio Madero of Grupo ECOBANA sidroniomadero@hotmail.com 
  • Feb 24-Mar01: Carnaval Costalegre/Mardi Grass Carnival . "Quema del Mal Humor"/Burning of the Bad Mood party ,Parade, Batucada, Carnaval Costalegre Queen Coronation dine and dance party. Surfing and Fishing Tournament, Beach Volleyball Tournament, Fish Fair , Artesanies exhibition, Cultural and Artistics Events, Football 7 Where: Barra de Navidad Malecon, Terraza (Guanajuato street)  and Main Square in Barra de Navidad. More Info: Carnaval Costalegre Program
  • Feb 26-27: X3M Skim Contest 2011 Where: Melaque beach More info: X3M Website
  • Feb 27. Fish Fair in Barra de Navidad / 2da. Feria del Pescado. Fish and Gastronomic Exhibition. Sport and Music Events. Where: Barra de Navidad Malecon.
Barra de Navidad Second Fish Fair

March 2011 
  • March 9: Ash Wednesday. Look for Lent Season food on Ash Wednesday, every Friday and during Holy week at different restaurants and "cocinas economicas". Note: Lent Meals in Barra de Navidad post.
  • March 8-17 : St. Patrick Festivities in Melaque (Fiestas Patronales de San Patricio en Melaque). Feria Taurina San Patricio 2011 March 11-20. Bullfighting, Jaripeo, Live Music events. Jaripeo Baile March 15th 6:00 PM. Where: San Patricio Melaque Church, Main Square and Bull fighting ring.   


April 2011

May 2011
  • May 3: Day of the Holy Cross/Día de La Santa Cruz. More important religious festivity for construction workers.
  • April 24 - May 3: Traditional Bull fighting, Jaripeos, Fireworks, Music and Religious Festivities of La Santa Cruz in Cihuatlan. Where: Monumental Bull fighting ring and several locations in Cihuatlan. More info.: Contact Cihuatlan Municipality.
June 2011
  • June 1st: Dia de La Marina Nacional/ National Navy Day. Official Ceremony at the Barra de Navidad Malecon.
  • June 13: San Antonio de Padua Patron Saint of Barra de Navidad Festivities.

Note: Some dates and events are not defined yet, so, I will update it as soon as the date is defined.
Visiting Barra de Navidad? Stay at Vacation Rental in Barra de Navidad Casa Las Margaritas

Friday, 15 October, 2010

Barra de Navidad - A Paradise for Birds and Bird Watchers





Barra de Navidad is located on the east end of the Bahia de Navidad . With a lagoon behind , it offers great bird watching for experts birders or for those just nature lovers within relatively short distances.

A good time of the day to go birding and to observe the  Rosseate Spoon bill, White Ibis, Kingfhisher and some others birds is early in the morning just as the sun rises. 


Other birds like the Yellow Wing Cacique love the seeds  of the guamuchil tree. It has a long red seed pod with small white seeds. The seed pods are ripe in early February and many different types of birds and squirrels really love this fruit .






Hummingbirds are always close to flowers like copa de oro and hibiscus.



Birds like painted buntings can be observed in gardens like here in Casa Las Margaritas




This is a rare view of a Caracara ,(Quebrantahuesos in Spanish) a type of falcon , sharing dinner with a street cat. The Caracara  likes to hang around with a family of cats on Calle  Velero in Barra de Navidad. 







Swallows are also common to see. These swallows were hanging around by Calle Velero  during a rainy day in Barra de Navidad.

Some of the birds that can be observed by the Barra de Navidad Lagoon and surrounding area are:

English                                           Scientific                        Spanish 
Tropical Kingbird                          Tyrannus melancholicus    Tirano Melancólico/Tirano Tropical
Roseate Spoonbill                       Ajaia ajaja                              Espátula Rosada/Chocolatera 
Great Blue Heron                         Ardea herodias                     Garza Azulada/Garza morena/Garzón Cenizo
Little Blue Heron                          Egretta caerulea                   Garceta Azul/Garza Azul
Brown Pelican                              Pelecanus occidentalis       Pelícano Pardo/Pelícano Café
Great-tailed Grackle                    Quiscalus mexicanus         Zanate Mexicano/Zanate Mayor
Cinnamon Hummingbird           Amazilia rutila                       Amazilia Canela/Colibrí canela/Colibri Canelo
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron    Nyctanassa violacea           Garza-nocturna Coroniclara/Pedrete corona clara 
Great Egret                                    Ardea alba                             Garza blanca/Garza Grande 
Streak-backed Oriole                  Icterus pustulatus                Turpial de Fuego/Bolsero de fuego 
Yellow-winged Cacique             Cacicus melanicterus         Cacique Mexicano                  -  Endémico
Wood Stork                                   Mycteria americana              Tántalo Americano/Cigüeña americana/Galletán
Magnificent Frigatebird               Fregata magnificens           Rabihorcado Magnífico/Fragata Magnífica 
Great Kiskadee                            Pitangus sulphuratus          Bienteveo Común/Luis bienteveo/Luis Grande
Orange-fronted Parakeet           Aratinga canicularis              Perico Frentinaranja
Royal Tern                                    Sterna maxima                      Charrán Real / Golondrina Marina
Crested Caracara                       Caracara cheriway                Carcara Común/ Caracara Quebrantahuesos
Black Vulture                                Coragyps atratus                   Carronero Común/Zamuro Negro/zopilote común
White Ibis                                      Eudocimus albus                  Corocoro Blanco/Coco pato/Ibis Blanco 
Double-crested Cormorant       Phalacrocorax auritus           Cormorán Orejudo 
Painted Bunting                           Passerina ciris                       Colorín sietecolores   ----> Near Threatened
Barn Swallow                               Hirundo rustica                       Golondrina Común
Snowy Egret                                  Egretta thula                          Garza Nívea/Garceta pie-dorado
Melodious Blackbird                   Dives dives                            Turpial Cantor/Tordo Cantor
Golden-cheeked Woodpecker  Melanerpes Chrysogenys  Carpintero Cachetidorado/Carpintero cariamarillo/carpintero enmascarado
Great White Heron


In this album you can see more pictures of birds:  


A great source I found for information of birds in Mexico is:  Avibase – Listas de Aves del Mundo – Mexico

Visiting Barra de Navidad? Stay at Casa Las Margaritas







Visiting Barra de Navidad? Stay at Casa Las Margaritas


Thursday, 14 October, 2010

The Beautiful Beaches of Navidad Bay - Barra de Navidad Beach


Beautiful Beach Scenes of Barra de Navidad ........


Barra de Navidad is a small town located in the Navidad Bay, close to Manzanillo airport in the Mexican Pacific Coast.




The Navidad Bay as well as Tenacatita Bay, Careyes Coast, Chamela Bay, Majahuas Coast and Cabo Corrientes is known as Costalegre.






















Visiting Barra de Navidad? Stay at Casa Las Margaritas

Wednesday, 13 October, 2010

Birria - Traditional Mexican Food

Birrieria Don Pancho as the name says is a restaurant where you can eat birria (goat stew). In this case traditional goat birria (tatemada) from Jalisco. Birria is as traditional as pozole and tortas ahogadas are; and I think it is seen outside of Mexico as a kind of exotic plate, depending on what part of the goat you eat.
















In Birrieria Don Pancho they prepare the birria "en horno, a las brasas" putting the meat previously prepared with an adobo sauce and spices in clay pots, slowly baked in the oven using charcoal for 7 to 8 hours from 2:00 a.m. to be ready for early brunch around 8:00 a.m. in the morning. The final plate is a goat stew with broth.
























Birria is usually eaten as brunch or lunch. It is also a common plate in Weddings, Baptisms and First Communion parties. Almost all parts of the goat are used to cook birria and the first pieces the customers ask to have in the morning is "la dorada" which is kind of dry roasted ribs and meat that are on the top of the clay pot.





The common side dishes to eat with birria are refried beans (frijoles refritos), chopped onion, lemon juice, tortillas and of course ,chile (spicy hot salsa made with dried chiles and spices).




The Menu in Birrieria Don Pancho


The menu is kind of hard to understand. I asked the waitress to explain it to me. Here is what she said:
Ordenes


Chica : plato chico de carne con caldo
Normal C/T : plato grande con toda clase carne maciza, menudo, costillas, me imagino que tripa y demas interiores del chivo.
" P/CARNE : pura carne, o sea pura maciza sin menudo y demas interiores pero con caldo.
" P/DORADA : pura carne dorada con caldo.
ORDEN GDE. : plato grande de birria con caldo.
TACOS : tacos de ..... birria
ORDEN DE F: orden de frijoles
Asumo que en las variaciones: normal c/t, p/carne y p/dorada el tamano puede ser chico o grande.




Orders
Chica : small plate of birria with broth
Normal C/T : big plate with all pieces of meat, leand meat and also stomach, ribs, and I imagine tripe and some other interior parts, so this is the exotic part for adventurous people.
" P/CARNE : lean meat with broth
" P/DORADA : dry roasted ribs and meat with broth
ORDEN GDE. : big plate of meat with broth
TACOS : meat in tortillas
ORDEN DE F : side order of beans
I am asuming that between the variations: normal c/t, p/carne and p/dorada the size can be small or big.


"Save water, drink Corona"
They also serve jocoque and desserts.

Thank you to Birrieria Don Pancho to let me take pictures, explained to me the cooking process of birria and the menu.


Birrieria Don Pancho is right in front of the bus depot in Cihuatlan (Central Camionera).
A very good article that I recently read about birria was published in "De Fogones y Marmitas" by Diletante titled "Las Cocinas de Mexico - Parte XIX".


Visting Barra de Navidad? Stay at Casa Las Margaritas

Sunday, 10 October, 2010

November in Mexico brings the Day of the Dead, Cempasúchil flowers, Posada and his Catrina, Calaveras poems, Don Juan Tenorio, Xantolo .....

El jarabe en ultratumba - The Folk Dance Beyond the Grave - Jose Guadalupe Posada
November in Mexico brings the  Day of the Dead, Cempasuchil flowers, Calaveras images of Posada, Calaveras poems, Don Juan Tenorio, Xantolo and more. 

  Day of the Dead is the Indigenous Festivity dedicated to the Dead in Mexico. It was proclaimed in 2003 as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.

   The celebration of the Day of the Dead begins in some parts of Mexico on the last days of October where  November 1st and 2nd are the most important days. It can be as simple as lighting some candles at home to remember the loved ones who have died or to visit them in the cemetery, cleaning the tombs and bringing them flowers . The most popular flower is the 
 
cempasuchil [marygold]  originally from Mexico), candies like charamuscas, alfeñique and some food.  


It is also common to set up an altar which is a Pre-Hispanic tradition, either at home dedicated to family members or in public spaces, dedicated to public figures like artists or national Heroes. The altar is decorated with papel picado, fruits, flowers, pictures of the deceased, and sugar skulls. 


Altar de Muertos


Probably one of the most known Day of the Dead celebration outside of Mexico is the one celebrated in Janitzio a small town in Michoacan.


One of the best "Day of the Dead" festivals is Festival Cultural de Calaveras in Aguascalientes .This festival is organized to honor great cartoonist illustrator and artist Jose Guadalupe Posada  who was born in Aguascalientes. His images of "calaveras" (skulls) where the most popular is La Catrina  are associated with Mexican Day of the Dead celebrations.
There is a proposal by Mexico to  UNESCO  to include Jose Guadalupe Posada's legacy as part of the Cultural Heritage of Humanity. 
Although on this article published by El Universal based on research made by historian and journalist Agustín Sánches González seems to be a controversy about who is the author of the famous Catrina, many recognized is Jose Guadalupe Posada, but, it was originally named it "Calavera Garbancera" and the first published image that has been found is from 1913. Diego Rivera designed the body and named it "La Catrina" when he add it to the mural "Sueño de una tarde dominical en la alameda central".

"Calavera Garbancera"  by  Mexican Artist José Guadalupe Posada also named "La Catrina" by Diego Rivera created in 1913 
Another popular Mexican tradition are "calaveras" poems, these are humoruos obituaries about well-known people within any kind of community, schools, companies, etc but the most famous are the ones published in newspapers about politicians and actors. Calaveras are published on November 2nd. like these from El Universal newspaper. 

Don Juan Tenorio of author Jose Zorrila is a theatre drama presented also mainly during November, there are dramatic and comic versions of this drama. This presentation of
Don Juan Tenorio in the Teatro Degollado in Guadalajara is a dramatic version. 

 You will find in public markets during these days: Calaveras (skulls) made of sugar (alfeñique), amaranto, chocolate, charamuscas, pan de muerto (day of the dead bread) and mazapan candies. 


Festivals and Celebrations of Day of the Dead in different parts of Mexico: 
Day of the Dead in Guadalajara - Panteón de Belén, Museo del Niño, Museo de la Ciudad
"Día de Muertos" in Guadalajara organized by the Culture Department of Guadalajara. Some of the events are in the beautiful Panteón de Belen (Belen Cemetery) and some are free.



Día de Muertos de la UPN en Autlán Jalisco - CulturAutlan
Dia de Muertos in Autlan Jalisco

El Sentir de las Calaveras - Ruta de las Calaveras - Rutas de tus Tradiciones
El Sentir de las Calaveras: Festival in Dolores Cemetery (Panteón Civil de Dolores ) in Mexico City, "Rutas de tus Tradiciones Nacional" in Aguascalientes, Toluca, San Luis Potosí and Oaxaca.


Day of the Dead celebrations at Museo Dolores Olmedo - Mexico City
Museo Dlores Olmedo - Altar de Muertos  2011
Dia de Muertos in Museo Dolores Olmedo : "La Catrina" custom contest and  Day of the Dead offering (Ofrenda de Muertos) at Dolores Olmedo Museum in Mexico City.


Skulls Cultural Festival in Aguascalientes
Festival Cultural de Calaveras in Aguascalientes : Jose Guadalupe Posada cartoonist, illustrator and artist creator of the famous Catrina was born in Aguascalientes. This festival has been created to honour him and to promote the preservation of the Mexican traditions to celebrate the festivities dedicated to the dead.


Dia de Muertos in Manzanillo Colima
"Día de Los Muertos" in Manzanillo Colima: How Manzanillo celebrates "Day of the Dead"



Fiesta de Los Fieles Difuntos Xoxocotlán Oaxaca


Curso de Cartonería Popular - Cardboard Skulls Workshop - Museo Estudio Diego Rivera - Mexico City
Traditional Oaxaca Day of the Dead carpet made with flowers and sand - Oaxaca Travel

Dia de Muertos - Xoxoxcotlán Oaxaca - Panteón y Tapetes



Dia de Muertos en Tzintzuntzan Michoacan


Dia de Muertos in Patzcuaro Michoacan



Day of the Dead in Cihuatlan Jalisco



The Indigenous Festivity dedicated to the Dead - UNESCO channel


INAH Documentary "El Juego de los Diablos". Celebration of the Day of the Dead in Guerrero and Oaxaca.




XANTOLO
Xantolo, a celebration of the Dead in the Huasteca region is not very well known outside of Mexico. The Nahuatl word Xantolo originated from the Latin word Santorum Santoro. The following are sites and videos of this celebration:
Xantolo in Tempoal de Sánchez Veracruz Facebook page
Xantolo: Dead Festivity in the Huasteca region 


Xantolo Documentary: November 3rd. Anima Sola, Huehues

Xantolo en la Huasteca Documentary


Xantolo images

Xantolo Dances:
Xantolo Dance in Jaltocan Hidalgo 


Traditional Dance of Day of the Dead in Huejutla Hidalgo

Baile Xantolo Danza de Huehues San Luis Potosi


Xantolo Danza Tamazunchale


Danza de Los Comanches in Tempoal Veracruz



video


Hanal Pixán  - Mayan Celebration of the Dead
Día de Muertos en Mérida Yucatán - Hanal Pixan
This is part of the text Hanal Pixan from YucatanAll.com
Hanal Pixán is the Mayan celebration for the dead in Yucatán and Campeche. The celebration begins with "U Hanal Palal" dedicated to the souls of the departed children. November 1st celebrates the adults departed wit the "U Hanal Nucuh Uinicoob". On November 2nd "U Hanal Pixanoob" or "Misa Pixan"  is a mass dedicated to all souls generally celebrated in the local cemetery.
An altar is set in the houses to honor the deceased and the most traditional altar has three levels that represent heaven, hearth and the infraworld. Red the rest of this interesting article here.


Hanal Pixan in Pomuch Campeche
Part of the article from Diario Yucatan
The celebration for the dead in Pomuch Campeche is very unique as family of the deceased visit them in the cemeteries around October 28. For those who have died at least three years before, the families clean the tombs but also the  bones and covered with embroidered napkins. The reason is that when the souls of the deceased  comeback on November 2nd  they will find their bones clean. The napkins used to cover the bones are embroidered with figures related with the personality and age of the deceased loved one. The napkin represent the clothing of the deceased and must be new, otherwise the soul won't comeback to visit the tomb.

Dia de Muertos en Pomuch Campeche

Images from Google:
Pan de Muerto / Bread of the Dead images
Altar de Muerto images
Calaveras de azucar / Sugar Skulls images
Day of the Dead in Mixquic images

Hasta Los Huesos - Cortometraje - Rene Castillo

Winter in Mexico? Stay at Casa Las Margaritas in Barra de Navidad, Jalisco Mexico

San Andrés Mixquic