Throngs of pilgrims will pour into the rural village of Cajititlan de los Reyes this weekend to demonstrate their devotion to the town’s religious patrons Gaspar, Melchior and Balthazar, better known as the Wisemen of the Orient.
While all of Mexico celebrates the legendary Reyes Magos and their star-guided trek to Bethlehem on January 6 – the feast of Epiphany – Cajititlan holds a prolonged celebration running from December 31 through January 8.
This year the best day to catch colorful daytime festivities will be Monday, January 8, when the life-size statues of the Magi will be toted out of the parish church at 10 a.m. for a four-hour procession around the town.
Ritual danzante troupes decked out in elaborate costumes lead the entourage that winds through main streets. As soon as the masked dancers pass by, the pilgrims rush into the pathway, crouching down on their knees as porters hoist the Three Kings overhead one by one.
At the end of the route the cherished images are boarded on a trio of motor boats for a cruise around the lake. After docking at the waterfront Malecón, the Magi are carried back to the church for a festive celebration of the Mass.
From the start of the fiestas pews are removed from inside the 18th century stone-faced parish church to accommodate thousands of visitors who come day by day to capture a touch of mystical powers. Church staffers stand by to collect clothing items or other personal belongings, brushing them against the kings’ regal robes. Entire families file through an adjacent chapel, huddling together while the Sacristan wraps them under capes worn by the Reyes in previous years.
Moms and dads often dress their offspring in capes and shiny paper crowns as a sign of faith that the Magi will help fend off childhood illnesses. Many stop at the chapel altar to deposit tokens of appreciation for answered prayers-a photo of the beloved infant, a votive candle, a tiny crown or a small coffer representing the Magi’s gifts to the Baby Jesus.
Traditional Pastorelas (Shepherd’s Plays) and age-old native dances are performed intermittently on the esplanade just outside the church.
Cajititlan lies about 10 kilometers off the Guadalajara-Chapala highway, accessed from the well-marked turn-off situated about halfway between Chapala and the Guadalajara airport.
Visitors should anticipate leaving their vehicles at one of the many provisional parking lots set up on the village outskirts. Sturdy walking shoes are recommended for safely navigating cobblestones streets leading into the center of town.