The Mija Chronicles

Mexican food and culture, on both sides of the border

Photos of Xico’s Fiesta de la Magdalena

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We arrived in Xico just in time for the Fiesta de la Magdalena. Mary Magdalene is the town’s patron saint and she’s celebrated yearly in July.

I wish I would’ve known more about the festival, but unfortunately all we could do was watch without really knowing what was going on. After lunch, we saw a group of young people carry a costumed statue of Mary Magdalene on their shoulders, singing hymns as they walked toward the other side of town.

Once arriving in the main square, the site of Xico’s largest church, a crowd of children danced in brightly colored costumes.

Here’s a few more of the photos I took, both of the processional and the children dancing.

Another processional, this time leaving Xico's main church

If anyone out there knows a little bit more about the festival, and the significance behind the processional and the costumes, I’d love to hear it!

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  1. Africa is well known for its color, but also Mexican (Latin American in general) colors are fantastic and they are everywhere, including food, clothing and even buildings. The bad thoughts can be removed more easily in a cheerful and colorful environment like this!

  4. The colors of this town are so beautiful! I love seeing your pictures, you are so lucky to be able to enjoy it in person. Seeing all of the architecture and people really makes me want to travel! Thanks for sharing this with us 🙂

  5. We have lots of small town fiestas like this in the Philippines but I’m not aware of any where it is the women who carry the saint’s statue, especially not something life-sized like that Magdalena. Very interesting.

    I do wish they didn’t change her out of that gorgeous purple outfit. 🙂

  7. Gracias por las fotos, soy de Coatepec pero vivo lejos así que aprecio ver fotos de mis pueblos. Un saludo y una felicitación por la bonita tarea que estás realizando.

  8. Hi Lesley!
    This looks a lot like the fiesta I used to go to a lot as a child and in my teenage years in my dad’s hometown in Zacatecas. The fiesta we celebrate is the Sacred Heart of Jesus and is always in June and celebrating the feast day of the saint. There is usually a week long celebration with daily masses,processionals leading up to the main day which begins with mananitas to the saint and ends with a mass. There are lots of events that center around the day too like a town queen of the celebration, rodeos, fireworks, horse races, carnival, lots of food stands and a big dance the night of.

  9. Great trip Lesley. Visiting all the towns around Xalapa, is well worth it. My in-laws live there. My mother in law loves so much the place and the produce available in the area that she is always participating in cooking contests using the weirdest plants or mushrooms. She proudly displays her Diploma’s when we visit.

    Mole Xiqueno is my favorite mole, it is just exquisite!

    Love the pictures!

    Mely

  11. Beautiful photos, Lesley! … Is that the same statue with a different dress? … If so, that’s the first time I’ve seen that done, (changing the virgin’s clothing.) So interesting and love the colors.

  12. Great blog, I believe within a few weeks or even days this town will be declared Pueblo Magico. Greeting from Okinawa, Japan.