Have you ever been door to door in a process similar to "trick or treat" but instead of candy and ghouls, you get popcicles, ice cream, and a little religious awe?

Well, that is what "Viernes of Dolores¨ is like here in San Miguel de Allende. Viernes de Dolores is a combination of old indigenous cultures in Mexico and Spanish influence.

Indigenous Cultures in Mexico and Age old Religious Traditions

Today was "Viernes de Dolores" here in San Miguel de Allende. This is one of the traditional beautiful religious celebrations that goes on here. ¨Viernes de Dolores¨ has been celebrated since 1413, and is the Friday before Palm Sunday. The custom was introduced by the Spaniards, and it is the day that Catholics are supposed to recognize the pain that Mary went through in seeing Jesus crucified. But when this was brought to Mexico, there were a few differences that the different indigenous cultures in Mexico made to their altars here. These altars instead, of being a demonstration of pain, and sorrow actually became festive, and happy.

Traditionally Mexicans place an altar in front of their home. This altar is full of flowers and candles and different colored papers, which appear to be more a demonstration of Joy instead of sadness.

The altar is placed the evening before and it must look like the procession of Jesus. This is done by using deep purple curtains against white ones. The white signifying purity and the purple royalty. Corrugated paper that is painted deep ochres and browns is made to appear as if it where the mountains.

In the middle of this sits a crucifix and then the image of the virgin Mary looking up, which represents the virgin mary looking up on the passion of Christ. The tables where the altar is made has a white table cloth and then candles are used all around the altar.

Then the table is covered with chamomile, the green of the chamomile signifies humility and the yellow of the flower the purity and beauty of the soul and body. Around the table and on the table sour oranges that are previously painted gold (one of the many additions of the indigenous cultures in Mexico) are placed, and each orange has a little flag poked in it. These sour oranges are meant to represent the despair the Virgin felt upon seeing her son nailed to the cross.

The floor is covered with herbs, and yet the gold colors represent the joy the Virgen will know when Christ rises, and the little flags represent peace and cordiality in life and with other countries.

Something that is unique to San Miguel de Allende and which has been practiced for hundreds of years, another addition by the indigenous cultures of Mexico, is the placing of little pots of newly grown wheat. The wheat is planted 15 days before but placed in a darker area, so that it doesn't turn yellow. The wheat is used to represent Mary and Jesus´s need for food to be plentiful for all.

Light is always supposed to accompany the Virgin and is represented by the candles that surround the altar, along with the reflection of the various spheres and colored paper flags, and products.

Some areas place water in cristal vases around the Virgin to represent the tears she has shed, but in San Miguel de Allende, for some reason these little vases of water were replaced with popsicles, or some kind of drinkable refreshment. So people who visit the various altars throughout the town that evening are also blessed with some sort of refreshment.

A Fascinating Process

The whole altar process is really quite fascinating, and enjoyable. Its fun! You walk from door to door, enjoying fresh, yummy popsicles, ice cream, or fruit juice of some kind. Even, when you are not catholic, these altars are interesting because you get to see the combination of religious tradition, and the aggregations of the indigenous cultures in Mexico.