Starting off earlier in the month and running through 26th of July is Xiquenada.  This is an annual Festival happening in Xico. This week it culminates into essentially non-stop partying with bands, vendor stands, grand arches of flowers adorning the fronts of some churches, bull runs in the streets both the firework laden and horn wielding versions, a marathon run, two days of professional bull fights in the local ring and the religious parading of our patron saint. The celebrations principal star is the Santa Maria Magdalena our areas very own patron Saint.

Xico Viejo (Old Xico) was formed in 1600.  They don’t know exactly when but the story goes that a little burro showed up in Xico alone. The burro was carrying two containers. No one paid attention to the little burro as burros were the chief mode of transportation. After a couple of days roaming loose, simply hanging around, it began staying around a capilla (a religious shrine).

Some hombres removed the two containers to see what the burro was transporting. Inside one container was a plaster casting of Maria Magdalena. In the other were many candles.  The mysterious little burro and its cargo were deemed by the local friars as a message from God  that Santa Maria Magdalena should Xico’s patron saint.

This afternoon the local folks will march a statue of Maria Magdalena along a beautiful colored sawdust alfombra (carpet). She will be crowned and placed to bserve.

Many workers started early this morning creating the carpet using bags of colored sawdust, first sifting it, then sprinkling it over stencils creating beautiful patterns and pictures. The elegant sawdust carpet is a work of art like complex sand castles that are soon washed away. It is really something to see those saw dust tapestries.

These colorful patterns stretch the entire length of the main street of Xico.

Around midnight with much pomp and circumstance the statue will be marched back to the Cathedral at the other end of the street. We will be there watching this and the accompanying  colorful fireworks show.

Many streets in the little pueblo are closed off. Vendors of all kinds, mariachis and street concerts abound. There are fair rides, and of course the running of the bulls like Pamplona, Spain. It is frightening and can be a blood bath. Last year it was reported 15 people were seriously injured – two gravely injured having to be transported to nearby Xalapa by helicopters.

Apparently Dedicated to Michael Jackson – A Fireworks Toro (ENLARGE HERE)

Xico has a bull ring. The professionals will engage six bulls today and again on the 22nd of July. There will be another street running of the bulls on the 22nd as well. In between there will be non-stop partying.

We will be participating in a lot of the activities and giving you reports – save running with the bulls. We have documented past bull fights (in the ring) and even a local running of the bulls in the street right here in our Colonia.

All this celebrating includes a good amount of fireworks. On the Cathedral steps I saw metal launching pads being loaded with sky bound rockets. On several side streets were the traditional wood caged ‘bulls’ laden with hundreds of fireworks. The firework toros are dawned by some loco locals that run up and down the streets with a crowd of dare devils, as the rockets shoot off in all directions. Here too people are hurt with burns from wayward rockets – it is pagan fun based on celebrating the religious saint.

Workers Painting with Colored Sawdust (ENLARGE HERE)

Like several other times though out the year life as usual stops and the parties and rituals begin. It is really something to see and participate in. Most towns in Mexico have these kinds of celebration and yet people come from far and wide to experience this particular festival.

A group of people called ‘mayordomas’ donate, plan and work for months before the actual event. The orchestration of the process is amazing.

The mix of borrachos and worshipers crowding and sharing elegant sawdust carpeted streets with bulls, vendors, firework launching hombres, children in colorful costumes and tourists is something not to be missed if you happen to be anywhere near here in July.

Jesus on the Cross being upstaged by Maria Magdalena – A Forbidden Photo Inside the Cathedral

Since we are usually back in the U.S. during this time we have missed the fun – but not this year. Stay Tuned.