Dec. 12, 2006 – Today is one of the most sacred days of the year in Mexico, a day in celebration of the Virgin of Guadalupe. In our town of San Juan Cosala, near Lake Chapala, and in most of Mexico, the celebration is more like ten days.

There have been lots of fireworks for ten days, starting around 5 AM and going late into the night. There have been processions around the neighborhoods. More than once I have awakened long before daylight to hear singing as people walk along the highway a few blocks from our house.

Late this afternoon, there was a parade. These kids were on a float:

This girl was on another float, with a painted backdrop:

This fellow is at the end of the parade, lighting a firecracker. It’s a little hard to see, but in the background, three different Mexicans have cameras or camcorders.

And here’s a street with paper cut-outs decorating it.
On the right you can see something just beyond the couple of steps. That’s a small homemade shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe.