Folks in Ajijic are ready to set aside their normal daily routines for the town’s annual salute to patron saint San Andrés Apostol. The boisterous festivities get underway Monday, November 21, rolling on straight through to the end of the month.  

The fiestas patronales revolve around a full agenda of traditional religious and secular activities centered at the San Andres parish church and the village plaza. The celebration is punctuated at all hours by ear-splitting fireworks, pealing church bells and vibrant music.

The celebration begins late Monday afternoon with a traditional procession of carros alegóricos (scenic floats) that circulate around the center of town. Different village neighborhoods and church organizations craft the mobile scenery and stand in as characters depicting biblical or sacred themes. The colorful cavalcade sets out from the rear entrance of the main church around 4:30 p.m. heading west on Zaragoza before returning to the front side of the parish via Ocampo-Constitucion.  

The nine-day novenario of religious activities commence first thing the following morning. Since the first day happens to coincide with the Feast of Santa Cecilia, patroness of musicians,

At sunset each day, the gremios (worker guilds) and businesses assigned to sponsor fiesta activities gather at Seis Esquinas, Ocampo at Alvaro Obregón, 6:30 p.m., to lead a candlelight parade that travels east along Hidalgo as the opening for the celebration of evening Mass.

After the service, crowds gravitate to the plaza for a night of revelry that involves chowing down typical foods, fueling up on firewater, socializing with family and friends and dancing ‘til the wee hours to the beat of live bands. Youngsters get their kicks from swirling on mechanical rides, trying their luck at games of chance and pelting one another with cascarones (confetti-filled egg shells).

Festive spirits rise with the burning of a towering castillo fireworks display set up inside the church atrium, blasting off every night between 10:30 and 11 p.m.

Foreign residents adhere to various schools of thought on coping with all the unsettling tumult. Some choose to avoid it as much as possible by getting out of Dodge for at least a few days.

Others hunker down close to the hearth, shutting their windows and wearing earplugs to dull the din. The hearty and curious prefer to go with the flow on the premise “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.”  

Here’s a tip for those leaning towards the latter category. Get in on the real “spirit” of the fiestas by opting for canelas (cinnamon tea) as your beverage of choice. Spiking the steaming brew with a shot of tequila, brandy, or the traditional alcohol de caña (raw rum) is a sure way to boost your mood while taking the edge off the chilly night air.