The stalls, decorated with palm leaves, were placed on the main square. Photo: Sofía Medeles.

Sofía Medeles (Ajijic).- The purpose of this year’s Verbena Jamaica del Pasado was to support Manos Solidarias, a group that helps sick people in Ajijic. A total of 20 families of sick people benefited from the kermesse (community fundraiser) held on April 10. 

 Verbena Jamaica del Pasado is a local event that goes back more than 120 years, where typical Mexican games are played, traditional food is shared or sold,such as tacos, sopes, enchiladas, pozole, tamales,, all prepared by Mexican families  who have done so for many generations.

The kiosk was also decorated with papel picado. Photo: Sofía Medeles.

Although the group Pasión de Cristo, which is in charge of the organization of the popular festival, participated with two food and drink stalls, most of the stalls were from relatives of people with illnesses that require high-cost treatments and other medical expenses. 

In this edition the verbena extended much longer than usual, having food, drinks, desserts, confetti eggs, and lottery from 8:00 in the morning until 10:00 at night. In some of the stands they had to look for alternative food to sell to cover the longer schedule. The people who sold menudo, for example, at the end, sold roasted meat.

The papaqui, a traditional game that consists of throwing confetti eggs among the attendees, could not be performed, since the musical group did not know the song that is played during this game. Another tradition, the «light of the past,» in which the electric lights are turned off and candles are burned in lamps made of crepe paper to resemble stained glass, was also omitted since the short drizzle that occurred wet the lamps enough to make them unusable. 

In spite of the rain, many people remained in the plaza, enjoying the music and the food booths. Photo: Sofía Medeles.

One of the members of Manos Solidarias commented that a donation box was also placed in the main square, in which a little more than four thousand pesos were collected and which was originally going to be distributed among the 20 families that participated. However, both the participants and the group opted to give that money to sick people who could not participate: Sara Enciso, Carlos Pérez Gudiño, Niño Santacruz and Jorge Vega.

Finally, Manos Solidarias stated that they hope to organize another event soon in order to continue supporting the sick and, for his part, Eduardo Ramos Cordero, general director of Pasión de Cristo, supported the idea.

Both groups thanked the contribution of the inhabitants of Ajijic, the tourists who joined in and the visitors from other towns for supporting the cause.

Translated by Sandy Britton