Viernes de Dolores

Viernes de Dolores (or "Friday of Sorrows") is celebrated all over Mexico on the Friday before Palm Sunday, one week before Good Friday. This is a special celebration where families setup beautiful shrines honoring Mary and her sufferings (which sounds sad), but is actually a fun time for families to wander the streets admiring all the shrines decked out in purple and white, with symbols of Spring like oranges and lemon grass. Children are especially part of the celebration as all the family shrines include sweets and refreshments for everyone that stops by. These include delicious bread pudding, sweet squash and fruit paletas. Some even offering ice cream cones and other treats. We wandered around our San Antonio neighborhood here in San Miguel and thoroughly enjoyed the experience, the family altars, the treats and as always... the people! Later, we enjoyed a lively Columbian band playing popular tunes in the Jardin, along with some of the bigger, public altars there for Viernes de Dolores.