On November 25, 1816 a ragtag band of Indian rebels gave up a four-year hold on Mezcala Island after forging truce with the Royalist troops charged with quelling the Independence movement in the Lake Chapala region.
Armed at the outset with little more than sticks and stones, the guerrilla warriors led by Marcos Castellanos, Encarnación Rosas and Jose Santana holed up with wives and children in a makeshift island fortress where they managed to keep the better-trained, better-equipped Spanish forces at bay, repeatedly outwitting the enemy as they ventured out for raids on terra firma to snag caches of weapons, food and other survival supplies.
Determined to conquer the insurgents, the Royalists eventually blockaded the island. Facing death by starvation and rampant disease, the rebels finally abandoned their cause after securing guarantees of indulgence against further persecution, restitution of ancestral lands, reconstruction of war-ravished homesteads, and sufficient livestock and seed to rebuild their lives.
The heroic defense of Mezcala Island rarely merits mention in history books, at best appearing as a minor footnote. Yet 200 years later, memory of the wily fighters who kept control of that rocky outcropping against all odds still inspires pride and resiliency among their modern day descendants.
Mezcala and other lakeshore communities will celebrate the glory days of their forefathers with a series of special events running throughout the coming week.
Cultural programs taking place November 22 through 27 at Mezcala’s Malecón will feature dance and musical groups from various localities, starting daily at 4 p.m. The Danza de la
Antorcha, a reenactment of the torchlight communication method employed by the rebels, is scheduled for Thursday, November 24, 7 p.m.
Highlights of the November 25 bicentennial commemoration include a parade around the center of town, 8 a.m.; a solemn session of the Jalisco Congress to be held on the island, 11 a.m.; and festivities continuing through the afternoon and evening.
To cap off the night, major towns along Lake Chapala’s shoreline will ring church bells and set off spectacular firework displays in unison around 10 p.m.
Chapala latches onto the celebration with a regional craft fair November 18 through 21 at the waterfront; a parade of roaming musicians along Avenida Madero Tuesday, November 22, 6 p.m.; an art show and string ensemble concert at the Centro Cultural Antigua Presidencia, Wednesday, November 23, 6 p.m; and a performance by the Redes y Cantos Chorus at the Fuente de Pescadores, Thursday, November 24, 8 p.m.