La Alborada San Miguel de Allende
The traditions and customs of San Miguel de Allende are full of colors, music and joy. Have you ever heard about La Alborada?
The Alborada is a representation of the struggle of the Archangel San Miguel against Lucifer, which translates into a pyrotechnic show that lasts a little over an hour.
In 1925, the workers of the textile factory La Aurora took up this ancient tradition. In that same year, the famous Mojigangas were also created.
¿When is the celebration of La Alborada?
The people of San Miguel celebrate these patron saint festivities on the weekend closest to September 29th, which can vary between September and October.
At 4 o'clock in the morning marks the beginning, an offering of dances, pyrotechnics and music to please the Archangel San Miguel and receive his blessings throughout the year. In front of the beautiful neo-Gothic style San Miguel Parish, the first fireworks are released, accompanied by the shouts of excitement of the spectators.
There is band music in every corner of the plaza, where groups of people from the neighborhoods of Valle del Maíz, La Aurora and La Estación begin to arrive.
Fireworks flash across the plaza, men shoot off shrapnel, and surprised tourists run for cover.
They bring with them huge colored stars made with Chinese paper that evoke the Virgen de la Luz, who was venerated since 1930 by those who worked in the textile factory La Aurora, and carry candles inside because they illuminated the processions in the times when there was still no electric light.
It's definitely a sight you can't miss! As time goes by, the rockets stop only to give way to a huge four-sided castle!
As dawn passes, the plaza rests, but only long enough to welcome another of San Miguel de Allende's traditions and customs, where hundreds of riders fill the street in front of the Parroquia, where a temporary altar has been set up for mass and the blessing of the horses.
The festival continues, where a traditional show is presented with Voladores de Papantla, burning of Judas (paper mache dolls), many traditional food stands. There is also a unique parade, between religious and pagan, where it is the turn of the ¨concheros¨ and their native dances that offer ¨xuchiles¨ (beautiful offerings).
Now that you know about the biggest party in San Miguel de Allende, you won't want to miss it, you should anticipate your lodging since many tourists want to be part of this huge celebration, Casa San José is the best place to stay since besides being cozy, it has the best terraces to get a spectacular view.