Happy New Year 2012! ¡Feliz Año Nuevo 2012!

We wish you all a 2012 full of Happiness, Health and Prosperity! / ¡Les deseamos un 2012 lleno de Felicidad, Salud y Prosperidad! - Casa Las Margaritas Barra de Navidad Jalisco Mexico

Winter in Mexico - Barra de Navidad, Melaque and Cihuatlan

Winter in Mexico - Barra de Navidad - Sunset at Sunset bar

Winter in Mexico -  Barra de Navidad Lagoon

Winter in Mexico - Barra de Navidad beach

Winter in Mexico -  Baby Sea turtles hatchery -  Barra de Navidad  malecon

Winter in Mexico - Lalo performing at La Oficina Bar and Restaurant in Barra de Navidad

Winter in Mexico - Sunrise from Casa Las Margaritas in Barra de Navidad

Winter in Mexico - Mexican Christmas Tradition - Las Posadas - Barra de Navidad barrio church

Winter in Mexico - Cloudy Sunset  - Barra de Navidad

Winter in Mexico - Barra de Navidad - Canal

Winter in Mexico - Barra de Navidad Lagoon

Winter in Mexico - Altar to the Virgin of Guadalupe - SeaMaster Restaurant in Barra de Navidad

Winter in Mexico - Serenade to the Lady of Guadalupe in Barra de Navidad church 

Winter in Mexico - Barra de Navidad Lagoon

Winter in Mexico - One more beautiful sunset in Barra de Navidad

Winter in Mexico - Gorgeous night with a bright moon - Barra de Navidad Lagoon

Winter in Mexico - Melaque beach

Winter in Mexico - Gtand Bay Isla Navidad (Christmas Island) Golf Course

Winter in Mexico - Paco Renteria performing at Festival del Mar - Melaque

Winter in Mexico - Singing lullabies to Baby Jesus, posada in the barrio - Barra de Navidad

Winter in Mexico - Cute tree frog at Casa Las Margaritas- Barra de Navidad

Winter in Mexico - Salud with Corona beer - Sunset at Sunset bar in Barra de Navidad

Winter in Mexico - Floats and Parade in honor of Lady of Guadalupe - Cihuatlan Jalisco

Winter in Mexico - Sunset - Barra de Navidad

Winter in Mexico - Barra de Navidad beach

Barra de Navidad Jalisco beach

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

Mardi Grass Parade

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Lady of Guadalupe Festivity - Cihuatlan Jalisco - Floats and Danzas Parade - Dec 12 2011

Lady of Guadalupe Festivity - Cihuatlan Jalisco

One of the most important religious holidays in Mexico is dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe (Virgen de Guadalupe) on Dec. 12th. In fact the celebrations start 46 days before with the praying of the Rosary and Veladas each day.

Floats and Danzas Parade on Dec 12th. This parade is part of the Lady of Guadalupe Festivity in Cihuatlan, Jalisco, México.

Floats show life scenes of the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Danzas are different groups of dancers dancing in pre-Columbian style and dressing either like Apaches or a mix of pre-Columbian and Hispanic dresses. They held flags with the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe or have this image printed in the outfit.

Some of the groups that participate with Danzas (Dances) are:

Danza de Los Plataneros / Banana Field Workers Danza 

Danza del Amarillo 

Danza de la Tecolotera (Colonia Miguel Hidalgo)

Danza de los Niños del Divino Nino / Children of Child Jesus Danza

Danza de los Apaches

Danza del Chavarín

Danza El Barrito 

Corredores de las antorchas  / Runners carrying torches

 The guys dressing in customes made of newspaper, balloons, etc are known as "locos de la danza" or "viejo de la danza". Danzas in Mexico usually have at least one participant call "Viejo de la Danza" or "Loco de la Danza" / "The crazy guy" in other parts of Mexico. In some danzas they represent the evil fighting against the dancers. In the danzas in Cihuatlan they are dressed up in costumes made with balloons, newspaper or banana leafs.

The parade starts around 5:00 p.m. After the parade a mass is celebrated dedicated to the Virgin Mary, there are blessing of Roses and Images. After the mass finishes there are traditional Mexican Fireworks known as Toritos and Castillos (castles).

Lady of Guadalupe Festivity - Floats and Danzas - Cihuatlan Jalisco

Lady of Guadalupe Festivity - Floats and Danzas Part 1 - Cihuatlan Jalisco

Lady of Guadalupe Festivity - Floats and Danzas Part 2 - Cihuatlan Jalisco

Lady of Guadalupe Festivity - Floats and Danzas - Cihuatlan Jalisco

Lady of Guadalupe Festivity - Floats and Danzas - Cihuatlan Jalisco

Lady of Guadalupe Festivity - Floats and Danzas - Cihuatlan Jalisco

Lady of Guadalupe Festivity - Floats and Danzas - Cihuatlan Jalisco

Lady of Guadalupe Festivity - Floats and Danzas - Cihuatlan Jalisco

"Viejo de la danza" - Lady of Guadalupe Festivity - Floats and Danzas - Cihuatlan Jalisco

"Viejos de la Danza" - Lady of Guadalupe Festivity - Floats and Danzas - Cihuatlan Jalisco

Lady of Guadalupe Festivity - Floats and Danzas - Cihuatlan Jalisco

Lady of Guadalupe Festivity - Floats and Danzas - Cihuatlan Jalisco

Lady of Guadalupe Festivities 2011 in Barra de Navidad, Cihuatlan, Villa Obregon and Melaque

Lady of Guadalupe -Virgen de Guadalupe 

Our Lady of Guadalupe (Virgen of Guadalupe) celebrations is one of the most important religious festivities in Mexico. The celebrations start in October 26th  and end on Dec. 12th.

Celebrations in Cihuatlan, Barra de Navidad, Villa Obregón and Melaque include novenas, rosaries, veladas, and on Dec. 12th. Danzas and Floats. A description of the meaning of each of these can be found in this post: Lady of Guadalupe - Rosaries, Altars, Novenas, Floats and Parade, Pilgrimages inBarra de Navidad, Villa Obregon, Melaque and Cihuatlan.

Calendar for 2011 Festivities

December 11 Lady of Guadalupe Eve celebrations

• Colonia Ejidal : 5:00 pm. Mass and Mariachi serenade in honor of the Lady of Guadalupe.
• El Aguacate: 6:00 pm. Pilgrimage with Lady of Guadalupe images. 6:30 pm Mass and Mariachi serenade in honor of the Lady of Guadalupe.
• San Felipe: (barrio Barra de Navidad). 7:45 pm Mass, blessing of images and music in honor of the Lady Of Guadalupe.
• Jaluco : 8:45 pm Mass and "Mañanitas" serenade in honor of the Lady of Guadalupe.
• Barra de Navidad Church: 7:00 Ordinary Mass celebration. 10:00 pm Mass and Mariachi serenade in honor of the Lady of Guadalupe.

December 12 Lady of Guadalupe Celebrations

• Jaluco : 6:00 am. Mass. 5:30 pm. Pilgrimae with images, blessing of roses, mass, kermesse, castillo and toritos.
• Barra de Navidad church: 12:00 pm Blessing of images and roses.  6:30 pm Pilgrimage of the Barra de Navidad community with Danzas, Virgen of Guadalupe images and starts. The pilgrimage start by the football field in Nueva España ave. All the different sectors, barrios of Barra de Navidad join this pilgrimage. The community is invited to dress as inditos (Juan Diego outfit) and inditas for women.
• Cihuatlan: 

          Dec 1st. - Dec 11th. Veladas, Pilgrimages and Rosaries.

          Dec 12th

                4:30 am Church Ringing Bells, pilgrimage and rosary in the Parroquia de la Santa Cruz

                5:30 am Mañanitas and Mass.

                8:30 am First Communion Mass

               11:00 am Pilgrimage of the whole town

               12:00 pm Solemn Mass by Bishop Gonzalo Galván Castillo

                 5:00 pm Floats and Danzas

                 8:00 pm Solemn Mass to the Virgin Mary, blessing of roses and images.

                At the end of the mass celebration in the main square with live music (Tamborazo Banda "El Cihualteco") and traditional Mexican fireworks: castillos and toritos.

• Villa Obregón and Melaque

          The Virgen of Guadalupe is also the patron of Villa Obregon, so, these are also Fiestas Patronales and                         Melaque community join them.
           Dec 1st. - Dec 12th.
                5:30 am Rosary and Pilgrimage with the Virgen of Guadalupe image and Floats to the Villa Obregon church.

                6:00 am Mañanitas and Mass

                5:00 pm Pilgrimage

                6:00 pm Mass. After the mass traditional Mexican fireworks: toritos and castillos.

all night Veladas in Barrios.

International Golf Tournament Rotary Club Costalegre - Grand Bay Hotel

International Golf Tournament Rotary Club Costalegre - Grand Bay Hotel

International Golf Tournament Grand Bay - Rotary Club Costalegre
December 17, 2011 Manzanillo, Colima Mexico

The organizing Committee and sponsors of the International Golf Tournament, Grand Bay - Isla Navidad Resort and  Rotary Club Costalegre sincerely invite you to participate in this prestigious event, which will be held on December 17 at Isla Navidad, Golf Course.

Putting Contest 9:00 am

Tee Off Time
December 17th at Isla Navidad Golf Course at 10:00 am by shotgun.

Ties: In case of a tie, a playoff will be held.

Tournament Format: Mexican Scramble (Best Ball).

Awards
Trophies for the top three first places best known as closest to the pin / Hole in one.

Registration: $1,800.00 pesos includes 18 hole green fee, shared golf cart & Buffet at ISLA NAVIDAD.

Don't have Golf Clubs? You can still play. Contact progolf@islaresort.com.mx or terrymac@liver.ca and let them know you want to play but did not bring your golf clubs.


Meal:  If you are not playing golf, you can still attend the meal. The cost is $250.00 pesos.

Note: Registration and Fees no later than Dec. 10th. 2011 at  progolf@islaresort.com.mx or terrymac@liver.ca

Special Rate $135.00 USD ++ per room per night . Reservations Hotel: reservations@islaresort.com.mx