At venues around town, you’ll notice a black and white image of a doe-eyed gal with a bob staring back at you. Like with Rachel on Friends, a haircut made a massive impression! The woman in the image is silent movie star, Louise Brooks, the biggest thing …
Semana Santa’s Secret Cast of Characters
Last Spring I was in the state of Chiapas enjoying the indigenous traditions there when on a tour of a church the guide twice pointed to a man at Jesus’ Crucifixion beside Mary, Jesus’ Mom, stating he was Jesus’ father, St. Joseph. I winced knowing St. Joseph wasn’t there, …
The Sea Monsters of San Miguel
Mary, in art, is typically shown as being contemplative, reflective, even sad, but, for me, her best image is Mary of the Light, or Maria de la Luz. There she is aggressive and assertive. She is widely celebrated as such this time of year. Back …
A Short History of a Long Time
Where San Miguel de Allende stands today has hosted humans for thousands of years. Most archeological sites around San Miguel are from the years 950 to 1100 AD including the pyramid, Canada de la Virgin. Part of the Toltec Empire that declined in 1100 AD and …
Rehearsing for St. Mike’s Day
Last Sunday was the rehearsal for the festivities of St. Michael’s feast day, which comes up in late September. The rehearsal procession was itself long and fascinating. It was laced with symbolism, including the dead, Jesus’ crucifixion buddy and a bullish master of ceremonies, who …
Is That Mrs. Arnaz?
When I was a kid my mother made doll cakes for little girls’ First Communions. A doll cake, if you aren’t familiar, is a cake baked in a bowl. Once baked, the bowl is flipped over to remove the cake, and the cake part becomes the …
Have a Holly, Jolly, Horsey Christmas!
For most of us in San Miguel the holiday season starts on the Feast of Guadalupe, December 12th. Some prefer to think of St. Nicholas’ day, December sixth, as day to get the holiday ball rolling. For a handful of hardy cowboy pilgrims it is the Sunday …
February 2nd, All You Need to Know
On September 8 both Mary’s birthday and the feast of Our Lady of Loreto are celebrated popularly with around the town processions, music and parties at two churches on the same square. February 2 is another big day celebrated for multiple reasons. The following is a primer of the …
Give a Dog a Bone
St. Anthony the Abbot was a hermit and early monk, who lived in seclusion in Egypt’s desert with animals as his only companions. St. Anthony the Abbot’s believed strongly in man’s responsibility to protect otherwise defenseless domesticated animals. St. Anthony also changed ancient man’s perception of …
Turning 15 Matters
Attending a birthday party in nearby Los Lopez for a 15 year old girl I was again amazed and awed on all the symbolism mixed into the food, music and fun. A quinceañera, like most every modern San Miguel tradition, has its roots in mixture of indigenous and Spanish …