Melchor GarcíaApril 20

On the night of December eleventh there is a dance in City Hall. They set off fireworks. The President, if he is “buena gente” (“good people”) [upper class, non-Indian], goes at the head of a procession that leaves at midnight from City Hall, accompanied by musicians who play the national anthem. Flowers and flags decorate the church.

There is a nighttime ceremony in the church. At midnight the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe leaves in a procession that meets the procession of the President mid-way.

The two processions form together as one, returning to the church where the people greet the dawn singing “The Little Morning Song” (“Las Mañanitas”) and “From the Sky” (“Desde el Cielo”). At dawn another procession departs.

To celebrate Christmas, the President calls on nine men, each of who then hosts a fiesta (posada). Of the nine men, one offers to prepare the birth scene. The baby Jesus is put on a table with flowers on the altar. The visitors (referred to as peregrinos -- pilgrims) first sing, then pray, then there is dinner, and, at the end, a dance. The host of the house offers food to everyone. The cost is 300 pesos.

For the New Year celebration, the host of the Christmas celebration is also the ‘godfather’ (festival host) for the baptism of Christ that is celebrated on 30th of December. Once again, he gives a feast and hosts a dance. They shoot off fireworks and pistols.

Camilo JiménezMay 2

For the Christmas celebration the President of the Chapel appoints nine people, each one of whom then hosts a celebration [posada], a dance, and a feast.

The old and new [out-going and in-coming] Mayors give a dance at Town Hall (that is if the out-going is not “embittered” (“amargado”) on account of the elections), which everyone attends.

---

On the festival day of San Martín there is a dance in town hall. There is a fair and races on the plaza in the afternoon. There are no processions.