Plunging deep into Zoquitlán’s culture

September 6, 2023

The fireworks started early in the morning to prepare people for the 5 am mass, which I did not get up for, but at 7 we had a delicious breakfast at our host family’s home. With all of our things ready, Stephen and i made our way up to the church’s sacristy. I had unusual access to enter the sacristy and photograph the preparations and the mass.

At the same time preparations continued nonstop for the processions, music and flowers that would take center stage for the rest of the day.

The next part of the celebration was the arrival of bicycles that made a pilgrimage from Oaxaca City.

Another mass was then to be said for the obscure sounding ( to american) of blessing the robe to be worn by the Virgin of the Nativity, the Patron Saint of this town.

In a dimly lit room a couple of blocks away, the white satin robe sits in an honorific platform surrounded by 4 acolytes in white.

At each stage of the festival bells ring to indicate what change is about to take place.

After the vestment mass finshed we took a break and had lunch with the goal of getting back to the church by 4 when the young woman would be dressed as the Virgin of the Nativity.

Women begin to congregate for the big procession. To my surprise, these two young women were my patients in Grand Rapids as children. I was so surprised to hear “Hi, Doctor Bouwens!”

Soon all of the women with traditional dress and flowers in reed baskets were arriving.

The women with their flower arrangement pose outside the church

The procession is off, with women carrying baskets of flowers, a band, police, children with homemade figures, large paper maché figures and more

It was long day full of color, flowers, and tradition.