Feria de la Candelaria at Parque Juárez
By Jesús Ibarra January 30, 2009 San Miguel de Allende
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Around 80 flower sellers—from Guanjuato to as far as Veracruz, Puebla, Mexico City and Morelos—once more fill the centrally located Parque Juárez with color and fragrance. They sell a great variety of garden and indoor plants from January 30 to February 10. |
La Candelaria is the San Miguel’s festival of plants and flowers that this year is celebrating its 19th year in the park (except for 2007 that was held in El Cardo).
The Festival of La Candelaria, on February 2, celebrates both the purification of the Virgin Mary after giving birth and the presentation of Jesus as “The Light of the World” in the temple, 40 days after his birth. Mary’s purification in the Catholic faith, is represented as the Virgin of the Candelaria, who cradles Baby Jesus in her left hand and a candle symbolizing the light in her right hand. Candelaria is also linked to the Three Kings Day, January 6, when the Rosca de Reyes (Kings’ cake) is cut. Whoever finds the small plastic doll (representing the Baby Jesus) baked in the cake is considered the godfather and must host a party on February 2.
It was an ancient tradition in San Miguel that the figure of Baby Jesus from the nativity scene would be taken to church on February 2 by an appointed godfather, who would later treat guests to ice cream or cake from the market that was next to the Parroquia (now La Terraza). It was in front of than same market that the tradition of selling flowers during the Candelaria began. Over the years, flower-sellers from other parts of the country joined the Candelaria Flower Fair. By 1991, the fair had become so large that it had to be relocated to Parque Juárez.
A tribute to Don Bruno Galicia
| Don Bruno Galicia, one of the founders of the Candelaria Flower Fair passed away last year. He sold flowers since 1954. Once a week Don Bruno would come from Atotonilco, Morelos, to sell his flowers in fornt of Las Monjas church. He also came during La Candelaria. | |
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During one such visit, he met Doña María Gómez, whom he later married. Doña María later joined him in the flower business. Each year, they used to drive their truck to San Miguel, loaded with geraniums, violets, bugainvilleas, and other plants to participate in the fair.
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Candelaria Flower Fair Program All events are at Parque Juárez |
Friday, January 30
Plant sale, 8am–9pm
Candelaria Parade, 10am
Main schools of San Miguel
From Jardín to Parque Juárez
Tribute, 7pm
To Don Bruno Galicia, founder of Flower Fair
Official Opening, 7:15pm
Flower Fair, by Mayor Jesús Correa
Music, 7:30pm
Violins of Brothers Aguascalientes
Fireworks and Music, 8:30pm
Saturday, January 31
Plant sale, 8am–9pm
Performance, 7pm
Ballet de San Miguel Casa de la Cultura
Directed by Gloria Navarrete
Music, 8pm
Estudiantina Tuna Real
Sunday, February 1
Plant sale, 8am–9pm
Music, 1pm, 6pm
Band of Elías Pirú
Performance, 6pm
Baller Mazatl, Casa de la Cultura
Directed by Omar Villalobos
Tribute to Santa Cruz, 9pm
Community of Sagrado Corazón
Monday, February 2
Plant sale, 8am–9pm
Seed blessing, 9pm
Concheros from Valle del Maíz
Performance, midday
Dance group Iztaccihuatl
Concert, 6pm
Band of Guanajuato
Tuesday, February 3
Plant sale, 8am–9pm
Environment education workshop, 10am
“Water care culture”
SAPASMA staff
Lecture, 7pm
“Parque Juárez and other antique sites”
By historian Graciela Cruz
Movie, 8pm
Ladrón de bicicletas (Bicycle Thief)
Directed by Vittorio de Sica
Wednesday, February 4
Plant sale, 8am–9pm
Environment education workshop, 10am
“Recycled Paper”
By CBTIS students
Music, 6pm
Estudiantina Fray Pedro de Gante
Movie, 7pm
La Dolce Vita
Directed by Federico Fellini
Thursday February 5
Plant sale, 8am–9pm
Environment education workshop, 10am
By PEASMA staff
Music, 6pm
University of Guanajuato String Quartet
Movie, 7pm
Cinema Paradiso
Directed by Guseppe Tornatore
Friday, February 6
Plant sale, 8am–9pm
Environment education workshop, 10am
By PEASMA staff
Performance, 6pm
Itinerant theater group Cornisa 20
Movie, 7pm
La Vita es Bella (Life is Beautiful)
Directed by Roberto Benigni
Saturday, February 7
Plant sale, 8am–9pm
Cleaning and reforesting actions, 10am
Performance, 6pm
Contemporary Dance
Music, 7pm
Estudiantina Tuna Real
Dance, 8pm
Sonora Cumarebo
Sunday, February 8
Plant sale, 8am–9pm
Dance, 1pm, 6pm
Danzón, with marimba and danzonera
with groups from San Miguel, Querétaro and Celaya
Monday, February 9
Plant sale, 8am–9pm
Performance, 6pm
By Heroínas Insurgentes school
Movie, 7pm
Il Postino (The Mailman)
Directed by Michael Radford
Tuesday, February 10
Plant sale, 8am–9pm
Performance, 6pm
Ballet de San Miguel Casa de la Cultura
Directed by Gloria Navarrete
Closing ceremony, 7pm
By Mayor Jesús Correa
Fireworks and music, 7:15pm
Movie, 7:30pm
Malena
Directed by Guiseppe Tornatore
Presentation illuminates Candelaria
By Arturo Morales Tirado
Lecture
Virgen de la Candelaria
Arturo Morales Tirado
Tue, Feb 3, 1:30pm
Sala Quetzal
Biblioteca Pública
Insurgentes 25
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For more than 50 years, Candelaria (Candlemas) has been celebrated in San Miguel with a plant sale that lasts 10 days. The holiday, which commemorates the presentation of Christ in the temple and the purification of the Virgin Mary, also has roots in ancient Mesoamerican culture. |
The tradition of selling plants was initiated more than five decades ago by horticulturists from Morelos, led by the late Don Bruno Galicia, and plant growers from Puebla, led by the Morelos brothers. Originally, the sale was held in the Jardín, but it was moved to Parque Juárez in the 1980s.
February 2 also marks the last quarter of winter before the spring equinox, and on this day Mesoamerican cultures blessed seeds before planting them to ensure a plentiful harvest.
On February 3, I will speak on the origin and traditions of Candelaria; the talk will be supplemented with a number of slides.
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