Traditional festivities honoring patron saint St. John the Bapitist will be in full swing this weekend in San Juan Cosala, continuing through Monday, June 24.
Colorful street processions held every evening around 6 p.m. feature indigenous dancers, motorized floats depicting religious themes, marching bands and scores of devout pilgrims walking along barefoot and blindfolded as signs of faith. Visitors will find a large commercial fair in the center of town.
Cultural events are scheduled each night at the village plaza opposite the church, climaxing with a dazzling castillo fireworks display set off around 10:30 p.m. or earlier if rain threatens to disrupt the celebration.
Similar festivities are also underway in the village of San Juan Tecomatlan, located to the east of Chapala just beyond Vista del Lago. A peculiar custom there is the early morning procession on the morning of June 24 during which villagers douse one another with buckets of water – a mirthful symbol of communal christening – as they parade through the streets carrying the image of the patron saint from door to door. DHP