Fragment of the walk from the Malecón of San Juan Cosalá to the Main Plaza. Photo: Héctor Ruiz.

Héctor Ruiz Mejía – With a participation of around two thousand people, the third edition of the «Paseo de las Ánimas» walk was held in San Juan Cosalá on the Day of the Dead. According to Luis Guzmán, artistic coordinator of the event, the attendance exceeded his expectations, since so many Expats  and tourists from Guadalajara and even from different towns of the riverside attended.

«I got to see many people I know from Guadalajara, from the United States, even from Ajijic», said the ex-director of Culture of Jocotepec, who also commented that the citizen participation was very helpful, including  contributions of money, by covering the Kiosk of Cempasúchil,  and decorating the Plaza.

Paseo de las Ánimas. Photo: Héctor Ruiz.

The idea arose three years ago as a result of his desire to take advantage of  the many legends that are part of the essence of one of the oldest towns of the riverside, explained Luis Guzmán. 

«We thought it would be very cool to recreate a story, which is very much our own, that of Michicihualli, deity of the Lake or La Mujer pescado», as she is also known.

In the event, La Michicihualli is represented by a young woman of the town, in which «we look for a profile with not so modern features, not so Spanish features», which in this third edition, was Citlalli, 18 years old, who walked from the Lagoon to inaugurate the festival in the center of the town. 

Her walk to the town center represents the goddess who comes to illuminate the town square,  which, according to the tradition of the festival, remains dark until the caravan of monarch butterflies and the endemic fauna of the Lagoon safely transport the «fish woman» to illuminate the journey of the dead towards ours world, according to Guzmán.

The walk begins with a ritual at the foot of the lake, where seeds and fruits are offered, and then the deity, which ascends from the water, is transported to the main square by the residents.

Translated by Sydney Metrick