Traditional Alborada coming to San Miguel on September 29th

Published September 25th, 2022

One of the most important traditions, since colonial times to the present, is the celebration of the patron saint San Miguel Arcángel. The San Miguel people celebrate these patron saints the weekend closest to September 29, so this may vary between September and October.

It’s very interesting and folkloric, different town areas hold great parties until the early hours of the morning, and then join a large parade around two thirty in the morning, in the main square.

La Alborada represents the fight of Archangel San Miguel against Lucifer, which is translated into a pyrotechnic spectacle that lasts one hour, approximately.

After many years, until 1925, the workers of the textile factory La Aurora resumed this ancient tradition. In that same year, the famous Mojigangas were also created. This first Alborada took place with these funny-looking giant puppets and with colorful stars and was performed in the temple of the Immaculate Conception. A year later it would be celebrated in the Parish of San Miguel Arcángel.

There is band music in every corner of the square, where groups of people coming from different city areas, like Valle del maíz (the Corn Valley), La Aurora, and La Estación celebrate all together.

They bring with them huge colorful stars, made with Chinese paper, that evoke the Virgen de la Luz, who was worshiped since 1930 by those who worked in the textile factory La Aurora, and carry candles inside because they illuminated the processions in times when there was still no electricity.

La Alborada begins at 4 in the morning with the ringing bell and the rockets that are offered to the Archangel San Miguel, to obtain his blessings throughout the year.

The next day the party continues, where a traditional show with Voladores de Papantla, burning Judas (paper dolls) and many traditional food stalls all over the downtown area of SMA.

There is also a unique parade, between the religious and pagan, where the ¨concheros¨show their native dances to offer their ¨xuchiles¨ (beautiful offerings).