Join in with the Virgin of Guadalupe Celebration in Sayuita (Dec 4th-12th, 2006)

Sayulita's Celebration of the Virgin of Guadalupe

What: Virgin of Guadalupe celebration in Sayulita Mexico.
When: December 4th-12th, 2006
Who: Everyone who lives or owns property in Sayulita
Where: Your specific Sayulita neighborhood, the church, and town square.
How: Your donations!

If you have ever been in Sayulita during the dates of December 4th-13th, then you have no doubt had the good fortune to experience our pueblo?s celebration of the Virgin of Guadalupe. While the origin and general customs of the holiday can be found on numerous websites, Sayulita has generally celebrated the occasion with colonia perenigraciónes, (neighborhood parades), cuetes (fireworks), torritos (flaming bulls), and church flower decorations. The festivities culminate on the night of December 12th with a Perenigración consisting of all neighborhood carros alegorios (floats), a castillo (tower of fireworks) in the plaza, an all night mass in the church, and a band playing until the early morning in the plaza.

Normally these events are paid for by Sayulita volunteers going from door to door in their respective neighborhoods in late November and asking for donations. However, this year in cooperation with Sayulita?s town priest, the volunteers have gone throughout the neighborhoods every month and requested smaller donations on a monthly basis in hopes of raising a more substantial collection instead of asking for single larger amounts the month before the celebration. The donations have all been compiled into one large fund which is entrusted to Manuel Placencia who owns/runs the convenience store across the street from Tia Adriana?s B&B.

I have been involved with the fundraising for my specific colonia for the past few years now and the entire town?s planning committee asked me in January of 2006 if I would help incorporate the participation and donation of the norteamericano community. I agreed to do so with the caveat that I did not have to knock on everyone?s door once a month and could simply make one request to the norteamerican community the month before the celebration?.well, here you have it.

So starting today, residents of Sayulita will no doubt see me around town and in the neighborhoods asking for your individual donations. Please feel free to stop me and ask any questions.

Looking forward to seeing you all.

Thank you in advance,

Ian Hodge

Additional specific details are as follows:

I. Each one of the nine neighborhoods or groups (see below) ?sponsors or co-sponsors? one of the neighborhood perenigraciones (mini-parades) announced with a single firework and starting in the center of the specific neighborhood at approximately 6:00 PM. Neighborhood residents then walk behind the homemade float carrying candles and singing traditional songs. The processions proceed around the plaza to the church where services are then held for an hour or so. After which, a torito (or 2 or 3) is usually released into the crowd. You are all invited/encouraged to walk along with your neighborhood float on its respective night. Group/neighborhood info is as follows:

1. Colonia Nueva Galicia: Located SE of the bridge and extending into the Tamarindo neighborhood. Neighborhood volunteers/organizers: Belen Rodriguez and Leticia Rodriguez. Night of neighborhood perenigración, TBD

2. Colonia Vista Hermosa: Located south of town along the back road to Play Los Muertos. Neighborhood volunteers/organizers: Teresa Placencia. Night of neighborhood perenigración, TBD

3. Colonia Deportiva: In the area of the soccer/baseball field. Neighborhood volunteers/organizers: Aida Hernandez. Night of neighborhood perenigración, December 4th

4. Colonia Centro: Located in the center of town around the plaza. Neighborhood volunteers/organizers: Iris Pena Ramos. Night of neighborhood perenigración, December 10.

5. Colonia Obrera: Located in-between Rollies and the new highway to Punta Mita. Neighborhood volunteers/organizers: Orlando, Alvarez Rodriguez. Night of neighborhood perenigración, TBD.

6. Los Surfers: A group made up of the Sayulita Surfers. Organizer for group: Rosario Placencia. Night of neighborhood perenigración, TBD.

7. Los Commerciantes: A group made up of the Sayulita Businesses. Organizer for group: Soya Rodriguez. Night of neighborhood perenigración, December 11th.

8. Los Charros: A group made up of the Sayulita Cowboys. Organizer for group: Jesus Cruz Rodriguez. Night of neighborhood perenigración, December 12.

9. Club de Trecera Edad: A group made up of Sayulita women over the age of 55: Organizer for group: Miguel Cabezut. Night of neighborhood perenigración, TBD

II. What the donations will be used for. (This is a ?wish list? as presented to me with approximate monetary estimates in pesos. Actual events will depend upon the amount of donations received.

9 torritos: $7,400 (More torrito are welcome)
Fireworks (2) for the last night: $960
Smaller fireworks for the perenigraciónes: $4,250
Castillo: $9,000
Mariachi band for night of Dec 12th: $17,500
25-person ?pre-hispanic? dancing group from Mexico City: $10,100 for two performances on the 11th and 12th.
Fresh flowers and arrangement for the church from Dec 4th-13th: $6,000
Marchiachi group to play for all perenigraciónes: $35,000
Free meal for the town in the plaza on December 12th: $10,000
Creation of the individual neighborhood floats: $14,000

III. Suggested Donations: The local neighborhood volunteers have been asking for $30-$40 pesos per month from each home in their respective colonias. This would equate to approximately $450 pesos/house. Please keep in mind that few (if any) of these houses generate any sort of rental income. A suggested donation amount for a business is ?one torito? which costs $800-$1,000 pesos. The local Mexican community has already generated more than $60,000 pesos yet-to-date.

Saturday Night Dinner in the Plaza: The committee is also serving traditional Mexican fare every Saturday evening in the town Plaza. The price is by donation only and all proceeds benefit the above activities. The menu usually includes traditional tacos, enchiladas, burritos, rice, beans, drink, and more?

If you would like to see your donation go towards one on of the specific events/activities above please just let me know. If not, they will all go into a general fund of which Manuel Placencia oversees.

IV. Please note that I am not involved in the planning of these events, only the fundraising efforts. I will do my best to answer any questions but Manuel is much more qualified to provide detailed facts related to this celebration. He owns/runs the convenience store across the street from Tia Adriana?s that used to be the Alas Blancas restaurant.

I look forward to seeing you all around town and hopefully to your participation and donations to this village celebration.

Thank you in advance,

Ian Hodge