Carlos Esparza Urzúa, from Chapala, inherited the tradition from his mother
Altar a la Virgen Dolorosa at Carlos Esparza Urzúa’s house, Miguel Martínez street, corner with 5 de Mayo.
Staff. – Mounting altars in honor of the Virgen de los Dolores is a tradition that has been waning over time at Lakeside; however, in the municipal capital of Chapala, a group of neighbors from the neighborhood of La Purísima, led by Carlos Ernesto Esparza Urzúa, keep the flame alive.
For 15 years now, Esparza Urzúa has been motivating his neighbors to make the altars. When it’s time to organize, «I ask and I tell them to do, and if they don’t want to do it, I’ll do it,» he exclaimed. With few or many members, he continues with the customs that his mother instilled in him.
In spite of the fact that other years the tradition was celebrated «in a big way,» with personifications of girls dressed in black and much more cooperation from neighbors from other streets, the participation was reduced during the pandemic.
This year, Esparza Urzua set up the main altar inside his house, on Miguel Martinez Street. The neighbors on 5 de Mayo Street supported him with three more. The group of ten people prayed a rosary at each altar and then, in accord with the tradition, asked, «Has the Virgin already cried?» In response, they received a glass of water, which represents the tears of the Virgin.
Carlos has kept images of the Virgin of Dolores for three generations, placed in the center of the altar, accompanied by a metal cross. His mother taught him to add a ladder representing the moment when Jesus returns to heaven, in addition to placing nails and hammer to represent objects used during the crucifixion.
The dice also symbolize the soldiers fighting for his tunic; the rooster that crowed when Peter, the apostle, denied Jesus three times; and white doves that represent peace.
Carlos Estrada Urzúa uses in his altar the colors purple and blue as a symbol of mourning, and regional plants such as clam, chamomile, birdseed and clover, the latter representing the Trinity.
In previous years the altars were kept up all night. However, security is no longer the same and things are stolen, said one of the neighbors, and as a result they dismantle their altars between 10:00 and midnight.
Finally, Carlos’ neighbors, who have grown as a family, will support him in setting up the Tended Christ outside his house, starting at 8:00 p.m. until the end of the March of Silence on April 15, Good Friday.
Translated by Sandy Britton
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