“San Miguel’s sweetest religious tradition is perhaps the celebration of the Virgin of Sorrows, when she (Mary) is placed over alters perfumed with chamomile atop brightly colored sawdust carpets. Her alter itself is decorated with bitter oranges, sprouts of wheat and purple paper picado (cut paper) banners.” —Atención

Bill and I walked around town yesterday to view some of the public alters. It was busy in Centro with weddings (bride and groom in vintage Jaguar arrive at the church), folks worshiping at the local churches and lots of alters. On this day the folks of SMA also clean and decorate the fountains around town. Some places in town were passing out free food and popsicles. The sweet popsicles represent the tears shed by Mary. Enjoy!