As Mother’s Day is celebrated around the world on Sunday, May 10, festivities in the Lake Chapala area will crank up in the wee hours when many beloved madres will be roused from their slumber with lively musical serenades.
As day breaks, sky rockets will blast off at local cemeteries, calling folks to services held in remembrance of mothers who have passed on to greener fields. Many will bring floral tributes to place at the graves of departed matriarchs.
Charro party
Ajijic’s Asociación de Charros gets a jump on the holiday with a wild country-style family fiesta on Saturday, May 9, from 4:30 p.m., at the bullring on Calle Revolución.
Kids and spouses in the crowd will take delight in watching moms step into the ring for fun and games, such as dance and tug-of-war contests, and the highlight of chasing down baby bulls to capture kerchiefs stuffed with cash that are tied to their horns.
The horsemen rope in support from private enterprises and individual donors to provide the señoras with refreshments and a variety of raffle prizes. Persons willing to donate toiletries, clothing, kitchen gadgets and other gift items may drop them off at the arena any time after 3 p.m., or contact charro president Gabriel Espiritu in advance at Cell 331-075-3269.
Virgins on parade
As a reminder that the Virgin Mary stands out as the quintessential role model for motherhood, Chapala’s San Francisco Church will once again lead into the May 10 evening Mass with a procession featuring Jalisco’s most cherished religious icons. The colorful cavalcade showcasing images of the Virgins of Zapopan, Talpa, San Juan de los Lagos and Chapala’s very first spiritual patroness, La Virgen de las Victorias, sets off from the north end of Avenida Madero around 6:30 p.m.
Immediately following the religious service, a throng of moms will gather at the entrance of the church for the traditional Festival 10 de Mayo founded by the late Adolfo Rayo and perpetuated by a group of community leaders.
The Ballet Folklorico de Ixtlahuacan de los Membrillos will headline the program of live entertainment. Ladies in the audience will also get a shot at taking home one of the dozens of raffle prizes donated by local businesses and individual benefactors.