Friday 18 March 2011

St. Patrick's Day in Melaque

St. Patrick festivity in Melaque
Prehispanic dances, Mexican banda music and crazy "castillos" and ''toritos" fireworks, religious services is what the people of the town of San Patricio Melaque do to honor St. Patrick an Irish Saint.

baby dressed as St. Patrick during a pilgrimage in Melaque
9 days last the fiestas that villages of San Patricio, Villa Obregon and Melaque dedicate to their patron saint St. Patrick where the biggest party is on March 17th.

Prehispanic "Danzas" to honor St. Patrick in the church of Melaque
During these 9 days people celebrate with lots of fun their patron Saint with religious services and "cuetes" fireworks as early as 5 a.m. In the evening there are pilgrimages and a parade with floats and at night traditional banda music in the quiosco of the main square, Mexican "antojitos", "Loteria Mexicana" Mexican bingo and the traditional Mexican style fireworks: "castillos" and "toritos".

Setting up the "castillo" fireworks - St. Patrick's Day in Melaque 
To close the celebration every night the most expected event are the fireworks. A tower with fireworks call a castle "castillo" displaying colorful figures and shooting rockets into the audience is lighted up. Children and young people get closer to the tower expecting to chase the rockets fired from the "castillo". After that, a person dressed up as a little bull "torito" which shoots out rockets into the crowd  chases everybody around the square making people running everywhere with fear and delight.
Priest blessing participants of the floats - St. Patrick's Day in Melaque 
Priest blessing the Prehispanic dancers -- St. Patrick's Day in Melaque 

A couple of Angels -- St. Patrick's Day in Melaque
pilgrimage - St. Patrick's Day in Melaque

"Loco de la Danza" - Pilgrimage parade, St. Patrick's Day in Melaque
Dancers at the Pilgrimage in honor of St. Patrick - St. Patrick's Day in Melaque

"Castillo" fireworks - St. Patrick's Day in Melaque

Pilgrims carrying the image of St. Patrick - St. Patrick's Day in Melaque








Tuesday 8 March 2011

Saint Patrick Festivities in Melaque

image of Saint Patrick in Melaque church
The patron saint of Melaque is Saint Patrick. The festivities last for 9 days

Program of the Festivities in the Main Square and Church
Every Day from March 8th till March 17th.

  • 5:00 AM Traditional "Mañanitas" music and "cuetes" (fireworks)
  • 6:00 AM Eucharist
  • 12:00 PM Mass
  • 5:00 PM Pilgrimage with floats and "danzas"
  • 6:00 PM Eucharist and blessing with the Blessed Sacrament
  • 8:00 PM Eucharist
  • 10:30 PM Fireworks "castillo" and "torito" and music in the main square

Fiestas Taurinas ("Jaripeo" and Dance parties with popular "banda" music bands) are also celebrated in the bull fighting ring of San Patricio, Melaque.

Festivities to honor Sain Patrick in San Patricio Melaque
Preparing the fireworks "castillo" for Saint Patrick Festivities in Melaque
.San Patricio Melaque Festivities Program

Sunday 6 March 2011

Mardi Gras Parade in Barra de Navidad

Mardi Gras Parade in Barra de Navidad - Costalegre Carnaval 2011
As well as Brazil, New Orleans, Mazatlan, Veracruz or Merida the little town of Barra de Navidad also celebrated Mardi Gras with a parade full of color and joy where children, young people and adults participated with enthusiasm that lasted for hours until late at night. The parade was part of the Costalegre Carnaval 2011.

Several troupes and floats of different businesses and schools of Barra de Navidad, Melaque, el Barrio San Felipe walk the streets of Barra, Melaque, Jaluco, Villa Obregon and Melaque on Tuesday March 1st. to end the parade at night with floats with lights and music.
Harlequin Troupe at Mardi Gras parade in Barra de Navidad

Mardi Gras Costalegre Carnaval Parade

Jarro Beach Sports Bar at Mardi Gras Costalegre Carnaval Parade
"La Vaquita Feliz" Happy Cow butcher - Mardi Gras Costalegre Carnaval Parade

Clowns Troupe - Mardi Gras Costalegre Carnaval Parade





Famous Piper Lover bar and Canada in the Ice Cream Car -Mardi Gras Costalegre Carnaval Parade
Rey Momo Backstage Bar -Mardi Gras Costalegre Carnaval Parade 
Abarrotes Pelayo Grocery Store Float -Mardi Gras Costalegre Carnaval Parade