Celebrations and religious traditions at El Valle del Maíz
By Tania Noriz, photos by Catherine Farquason (May 19, 2006)
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May is the month when one of San Miguel's oldest barrios (neighborhoods), El Valle del Maíz, venerates the Santa Cruz (the Holy Cross) in a colorful and very noisy blend of secular and religious festivities.
For more than a century, the residents of the Valle del Maíz have worked together to prepare their annual celebration of the Santa Cruz with bright colors, pre-Hispanic dances, music, incense and |
fireworks, more fireworks and yet more fireworks.
From Sunday, May 21, to Sunday, May 28, the small plaza in front of the simple neighborhood church fills to capacity with animal-skin-clad apaches and plumed, costumed Chichimeca dancers giving thanks for the blessings of the Santa Cruz.
| Although this celebration is based in Catholic traditions of this region, it incorporates pre-Hispanic elements. The pre-hispanic Chichimeca from the area danced to give thanks for the rains and to ask for a good corn crop and harvest. | |
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The week-long event unites neighbors who contribute food, time, money, costumes, offerings and the famous mojigangas (giant papier mâché figures).
Every day of the festival sees a host of different activities and rituals. The day begins at dawn with religious ceremonies, blessings, offerings and dances. Crosses are blessed and the faithful pray and receive limpias (cleansings) by the community shaman. At the end of the religious ceremonies, the participants gather in another one of the rituals, a big lunch that includes tamales and atole. Festivities continue late into the evening as crowds dance next to the mojigangas to the traditional music of several groups, such as Los Leones de Xichú.
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This year, the festival, now recognized as one of most important of the region, includes performances by groups from the
Huasteca, a puppet show by Mónica Hoth, pre-Hispanic dances and the traditional representation of the war between Spaniards and
Chichimecas. The festival ends with a parade of dancers and mojigangas through the main streets of the city.
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Santa Cruz Traditional Festivities
All events take place in the plaza in front of the Valle de Maíz Church unless other wise indicated.
Sunday, May 21
8pm, music by "Estación del Amor"
Monday, May 22
8pm, music by "Verdolaga Tóxica"
Tuesday, May 23
7pm, puppet show by Mónica Hoth
8pm, music by the "Punto Final" group
Wednesday, May 24
8pm, music by "La Prodigiosa" group
Thursday, May 25
8pm, Huapango music and poetry by "Los Leones de la Sierra de Xichú"
9pm, Blessing of the candles ceremony to honor La Santa Cruz
Friday, May 26
| 6pm, music
7pm, pre-Hispanic dances
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Saturday, May 27
4am, collection of offerings, flowers and powder (fireworks)
7am, atole offering
8am, music at the temple
11am, pre-Hispanic dances
3pm, offerings for the Santa Cruz
5pm, traditional war dance between Chichimeca Indians and Spanish soldiers, held next to the gas station on Salida a Querétaro
7pm, greased pole climbing in front the church; traditional dancers
9pm, adoration of Santa Cruz with candles
10pm, fireworks
Sunday, May 28
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4am, collection of offerings; flowers and powder 7am, atole offering 8:30am, pre-Hispanic dances and band music |
Noon, parade of dancers and mojigangas (giant puppets) from Valle de Maíz to San Miguel's main streets
1pm, pre-Hispanic dances
2pm, burning of papier mâché dolls
3pm, greased pole climbing
7pm, greased pole climbing
9:30pm, fireworks
Our library, a model of service
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The State Network of Libraries selected the Biblioteca Pública of San Miguel as a model library, based on its educational services and programs for the community. Recognition also came on a federal level, when our library was chosen to be |
the first to go online with President Fox and students from Mexico City during the inauguration of the new mega-library José
Vasconcelos, located in the old Buenavista Train Station in Mexico City. Sixth-grade students from "Justo Sierra" and "Montes de Oca" primary schools were invited to "virtually" attend the inauguration and to chat with students from the capital and President Fox. After the students chatted for some minutes, President Fox arrived. Unfortunately, the chat with him lasted only a few seconds due to technical problems with the new system.
In April the State Network of Libraries donated 12 computers to the Biblioteca Pública. They were installed in the children's room for educational purposes and research. Eight of the library's old computers, still in good working condition, were donated to the primary school Augustin Melgar in the rural community of Los Galvanes.
Service in memory of "BBQ" Bob Heck
| Last year, San Miguel lost Bob Heck, known affectionately to all as "BBQ Bob." Bob exemplified in many ways the most recent type of San Miguel "newcomer." Not ready to retire from anything, Bob worked hard-very hard-partied hard and gave generously of his time to good causes. He ran a successful furniture-making business, started an organic produce store and could be seen catering at all the major fund-raisers in the city. | |
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In less than six years he not only made a new life with his wife, Guadalupe, but became a local legend. BBQ Bob cooked up a feast of comfort food and friendship.
He and Guadalupe would spend weekends catering and talking to everyone. His hospitality was just as delicious.
It was rare to find him at his store without company. He exuded Southern hospitality and delivered his irreverent, sharp wit with a hearty, contagious laugh.
He was a man who loved life to the fullest, and life loved him.
An anniversary service in memory of BBQ Bob Heck will be held Friday, May 26, at 6:45pm at the San Francisco Church, Centro.
Dinah Mary Sullivan
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Dinah Sullivan, 63, was laid to rest May 15, 2006, in England. She arrived in San Miguel as a part-time resident over 30 years ago and became a full-time sanmiguelense some 18 years ago. She was, first and foremost, a devoted wife and mother. Dinah grew up in Cambridge, England, the child of active parents. She loved sports and was an excellent student. At 34, she met her future husband and dropped most of her desires and dreams to make his come true. |
She stayed home for more than 30 years as a homemaker, while her husband pursued a demanding career in international business.
While living her life as a loving daughter, wife and mother, Dinah got the chance to travel and explore the world. After visiting the Far East and living in Spain, Switzerland and much of Europe, and later in the United States, and traveling South America, she went on a 30-year adventure through Mexico, based in San Miguel. Dinah was full of life. She raised a beautiful child, Henry. She loved to be creative. She loved to dance, to read and to grow flowers. She was truly a free spirit.
Dinah was also known to have a sly sense of humor. She loved to be playful and didn't take herself too seriously. She instilled this love of life in her family and always commented that raising her boy was the most important thing she ever did.
Dinah is survived by her mother, Joan (94), living in Cambridge, England; her husband, Jack (70); and their son, Henry (27), an archivist who lives and works in Glasgow, Scotland, with his wife.
Dinah will be missed by her loving husband and life partner, Jack, a local SMA businessman, who was a great influence in her life. Jack was a supportive soul, offering Dinah a relationship full of intimacy and laughter. Dinah grew and flourished in the last years of her life. She learned to accept herself from within and had come to a calm, peaceful place in her life. The later years in San Miguel, with scores of friends, were very, very good to Dinah, and Dinah was good to San Miguel. She will be missed.
Dinah's family asks that donations in her memory be sent to any fund for cancer.
New head of English classes program
By Ali Zerriffi
Jane Casa, who has led the English education program at the Biblioteca Pública for many years and who is going on sabbatical, introduced Gerald Camp to the board of directors as a new candidate for the position.
Camp has recently joined our community as a resident but has known San Miguel for many years. A graduate of Johns Hopkins University, he has many years of experience as an English teacher and English department chairman. He is the author of two books and numerous articles on the teaching of writing and is a specialist in language arts/English as a second language. The board voted unanimously, and with gratitude, to welcome this new volunteer to the Biblioteca.
On behalf of the board of directors I would like to extend a warm welcome to Gerald Camp and many thanks to Jane Casa for so many years of devotion to the educational program and its students. We hope to see her back at the Biblioteca in the not-too-distant future.
The library is extremely dependent on volunteers to accomplish its mission in the community, and help is needed in every department. Anyone interested should get in touch with our coordinator, Judith Boston, at
volunteers@bibliotecasma.com