Annual Patron’s Festival Draws a Crowd
Tara A. Spears
Perfect weather welcomes those that come to celebrate one of the area’s most popular social events. The town of La Peñita de Jaltemba invites the public to enjoy its Patron Saint Festivities in honor of Nuestra Señora del Socorro, a religious festival that year after year draws tourists to the region. The festival runs from Mexican Mother’s Day, May 10, until May 20. The planning committee provides something of interest for all ages as this celebration offers religious ceremonies, popular dances, cultural events, music, fireworks, art exhibitions and much more. The daily events generally start at 5:45 p.m. but check the schedule for specific activities. Most years the program will include activities for all ages: artistic and cultural events, bands and dancing, rides for the kids, all of which will be held in the La Penita plaza and on the malecon. There are lots of different food and of course, plenty of cold beer.
One local restaurateur, the owner of the popular El Pollito Restaurant on La Penita main street, emphasizes the importance of keeping alive the tradition. “It is because these celebrations encourage friends to meet again, absent children to visit with their families, and the entire community joins this act of faith.” The daily entertainment follows a nightly procession to the church.
The namesake of the La Penita Catholic Church has an intriguing legend, if you’re agnostic; or a powerful miracle, if you are a believer. Each year the village (puebla) of La Peñita de Jaltemba celebrates the Patron Saint’s Festival of Our Lady of the Rosary. During these 11 days, the different colonias (neighborhoods) in La Peñita organize to participate in marching down the avenida for a novena in the church. The organizers show their devotion to Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Talpa through several activities besides the daily mass, such as singing, pilgrimages, and fireworks.
The main elements of the legend have been confirmed as the Little Virgin (presently encased in glass) has survived for hundreds of years. Many other miracles have been credited to the diminutive statue. According to Jenny McGill in her 2007 article, “At Home in Talpa de Allende, Jalisco,” the legend of the little Virgin doll dates back to the 1600s.
“In those days, it was the custom for worshipers to bring fruit and vegetables from their ranches to lay before the Virgin on the altar. Ears of corn, tender tasty squashes, green beans, chilies, cucumbers, and all sort of agricultural products were brought as offerings. These natural products served as a vehicle for a multitude of insects. Time, travel and bugs made holes and cracks in the Virgin. Water from flowers laid at her feet had stained and rotted the figure until it barely had a human shape anymore.
The parish priest noticed that several of the small images were old and badly disfigured and, according to church laws, should be retired from the public. He called in the custodians who were in charge and instructed them to dig a hole in the sacristy of the church, wrap the disfigured images in old altar cloths and bury them. But when one of the young girls, a Maria Tenanchi, was cleaning the church reached out to take the Little Virgin that had been made of corn stalks in Michoacan, the doll began to light up with such splendor that it seemed as if a bolt of lightning had struck it. The little Virgin had lovely robes and was trimmed in gold!” Many miracles are attributed to the tiny statue.
“People come from various communities. The main attraction is the day of the arrival of the Virgin. Religious tourism always visits us after the secular spring break period, semana santa, many people come to the Fiestas Patronales,” said the president of the Association of Hotels and Motels of Compostela.
Other main attractions are the Gran Noche del Danzón on Friday 16 and the Jaripeo Baile on Saturday, May 18 at Lienzo Charro Las Isabeles.
“We invite you to come and enjoy a pleasant time in La Peñita de Jaltemba,” says the Comittee. Although the Patron saint festival is much more secular than fifty years ago, it is still a significant event for this rural community. The children are excited and the whole family is having fun either watching or participating in the evening activities.