December 2018 at Lake Chapala - plus download your free eBook to 2019 holidays & festivals

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Mexico's most important religious figure is the Virgin of Guadalupe, who gets her own day of celebration on December 12. A procession starts at 5 p.m., followed by music, dancing and a fireworks castillo. Get more info about the day's events at The Lakeside Guide.

New Year's Day

Jan 1

Fiesta de San Sebastián

January 20

Festival Cultural Sangre Viva

JAN 25-27

If you're outside on the streets in the evenings during from December 16-23, you might see a traditional posada, which is when actors portray a part of the story of the birth of Christ.

These groups, with two people dressed as Mary and Joseph, walk through the streets to a certain house each night asking for shelter for the night. A scene is played out in front of the house, then the posada enters the "inn" to kneel around the Nativity scene and pray.

When you're out and about in the evenings, you might also run into another type of posada, which in many cases is basically a Christmas party with family, friends, or groups such as co-workers or university classes, as depicted below.

If you haven't already, download the brand new free eBook about 21 holidays, festivals and other events in Ajijic. It's 46 pages and has 63 photos.

You'll learn about Ajijic's important fiestas and traditions, including the masked "sayacas" that appear during Carnival in February and March; an indigenous music and culture event that happens in January; a paper hot air balloon festival where the hot air balloons sometimes explode onto the crowd below; the town's religious nine-day fiestas for its patron saints and virgins; as well as nationally celebrated holidays such as Revolution Day, the Day of the Dead and Independence Day. 21 events in total.

Click here to get the free eBook, which is a .pdf document. It'll probably open in your web browser or in Adobe Acrobat. Once it's open, just save it to your hard drive for future reference through the year. Send me an email if you have any difficulties with the file.

Yejjapi

Garments, rebozos, curtains, tablecloths, cushions, pillows & alterations.
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Canastas Morales

The Morales family has been taking the bus to Ajijic from Guadalajara every day for almost two decades to sell these traditional palm baskets & bags typical of Tlamacazapa, Guerrero.
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Traditional Piñata Workshop Every Monday and Thursday in December before Christmas, 4-6 p.m. at the Centro Cultural Ajijic (main plaza, Ajijic). Learn how to make these colorful piñatas popular during Christmas and other occasions. Cost is $15 pesos per class. Learn more by visiting the Center or calling 766-23-73.

Mexico's Winter Holidays and Traditions Dec 5, 12, 19, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Lake Chapala Society (16 de Septiembre, #16-A, Ajijic). $550 pesos. Understand the diverse and fascinating traditions surrounding Mexico’s winter holiday season. For instance, learn the informal name of the Christmas period between December 12 and January 6, and the meaning of the Aztec name for poinsettias, and much, much more.

Painted Glass Art Exhibition Dec 6, 4-7 p.m. at Chapala Realtors (Constitución #14, Ajijic). Come to meet the artist, Martin Lepe, from Tonalá, who produces these amazing masterpieces on glass. Reception includes drinks and snacks. Call 376-766-7000 with any questions.

Charreada Horse Show Dec 7, 3 p.m. onwards at the Lienzo Charro Jesús González (Francisco Madero #270, Chapala). $20 pesos. At this traditional charrería event, you'll see charros performing specific routines with horses, bulls, and heifers, including demonstrations of roping and other techniques. It benefits a local escaramuza charra (cowgirl) who needs help with medical expenses. The first two photos in the "Recently at Lake Chapala" section below are from a similar show featuring escaramuzas earlier this month.

Zona Cuba Concert Dec 7, 6 p.m.-12 a.m. at The Purple House (Hidalgo #385, San Antonio Tlayacapán). Cuban music and dance party to celebrate the band Zona Cuba's ninth anniversary.

Art opening: "Habitantes" Dec 8, 6 p.m. at the Centro Cultural Ajijic (main plaza, Ajijic). Joint graphic art exhibition between Nadina Villanueva Martínez and Mauro Gutíerrez Castro.

Posada Jalisciense Dec 8, 6 p.m. at the Auditorio de la Ribera (Boulevard De Jin XI #123, 45920 Ajijic). $200 pesos. A performance of Christmas dances and Jalisco songs with live music and more than 40 artists on stage recreating a Mexican tradition.

Arts & Crafts Sale Dec 8, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the American Legion (Morelos #114, Chapala). Auxiliary will host the annual Arts and Crafts Sale. You'll find Christmas art, cards, jewelry, gifts, special foods and a bake sale, including individually packaged precooked meals for those days you don’t have time to cook. We need items for the Bake Sale and people to help keep things organized. If you would like to help or if you would like a table to present your crafts please contact chair Cindy Thompson at 106-0953. Baked goods can be dropped off at the Legion after 3:00 p.m. on Friday the 7th or brought to the sale on Saturday at 8:00 a.m.

Coxala Gráfica Holiday ArtFest Dec 8 & 9, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at Coxala Gráfica (Carretera Poniente # 36). 331-769-7365. coxalagrafica@gmail.com Get your holiday giving spirit running by gifting yourself and those you love a piece of art that will last them a lifetime, to live with and beautify daily life. Come and join for a sip throughout the day.

Lucha Libre Event (Mexican Wrestling) Dec 9, 5-8 p.m. at the Coliseo Municipal Benito Juárez (Francisco Madero #99, Chapala). $60-$220 pesos. A classic lucha libre Mexican wrestling event.

Revolutionary Women in Modern Mexican History Dec 10, 12, 13, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Lake Chapala Society (16 de Septiembre, #16-A, Ajijic). $350 pesos. This course will highlight the voices and experiences of women, changing the prevailing narrative of the Mexican Revolution and post-revolutionary state formation by placing women at center stage. We’ll examine how women seized opportunities created by modernization and revolutionary upheaval to challenge conventions of sexuality, work, family life, religious practices, and civil rights.

Aztec Studios Open House Dec 11, 4-6 p.m. at Aztec Studios (Carretera Poniente #232, Ajijic). janicekimballmx@gmail.com. 376-766-3543. Come to see this magnificent contemporary and Pre-Hispanic tapestries woven on Spanish colonial looms in a rich array of colors and materials.

Frank Sinatra Benefit Concert Dec 12, 7 p.m.-10 p.m. at El Barco (Carretera Oriente #33A, Ajijic). This concert on Frank Sinatra's birthday benefits local disabled children.

Ayurveda Master Class Dec 12, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Dharma Ajijic (Zaragoza Poniente #1, Ajijic). $300 pesos. 331-279-6763 Dharma is very happy to host this beautiful wellness master class, as part of our wellness offer to the community of Ajijic. Ayurveda teaches us that we are all unique individuals and that one´s path toward perfect health is equally unique. Mahadevi has more than 12 years of learning, teaching and experiencing the benefits of Ayurveda's principles into her life.

Grand Christmas Posada Dec 14, 6:00 p.m. at El Salón de Huerta (Carretera Poniente #522, Ajijic). $250 donation Take part in a Christmas posada that helps with the restoration of the Chapel of the Virgin of the Rosary (the chapel on the Ajijic plaza). The dinner and dance event with the band Trio Los Flamingos takes place in the Salón de Huerta on the highway in West Ajijic and includes a rendition of the pastorela nativity play, piñatas, and ends with Colombian music from the group Parritas Musical.

It's a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play Dec 15, 16, 4:30 p.m. at the Centro Cultural Ajijic (main plaza, Ajijic). $200 pesos, tickets available at Diane Pearl Colecciones. Come join us at the Ajijic Cultural Center in the plaza on December 15th and 16th (Saturday & Sunday) from 4-6 p.m. (door and bar open at 3 p.m.) as we celebrate the season with everyone’s favorite, "It's a Wonderful Life," a holiday favorite as you've never seen - or heard! - it before. The timeless tale of George Bailey is given a clever twist when we stage it as a live, 1940s radio broadcast. Greg Custer, Florette Schnelle, Graham Miller, Terry Gibbard, and Barbara Pruitt give voice to all of Bedford Falls's memorable residents, accompanied by sound effects created live onstage by Maryanne Gibbard. Rosann Balbontin directs this Potter Productions show, which is adapted for the stage by Joe Landry. Tickets are 200 pesos and can be purchased at Diane Pearl, Mia’s, and at the door before each performance.

Winter Concert Dec 16, 7 p.m. at the Auditorio de la Ribera (Boulevard De Jin XI #123, 45920 Ajijic). $200 pesos. A choir and orchestra product by the youth group CREM (Centro Regional Estudios Musicales), directed by Emmanuel Medeles. Tickets available at Diane Pearl Colecciones, Dental del Lago, Auditorio de la Ribera, Notaria 2.

A Christmas Celebration Concert Dec 16, 2 p.m. at the Spotlight Club (Hidalgo #159, San Antonio Tlayacapan). The first concert for the newly formed Lake Chapala Community Orchestra. Tickets available at The Spotlight Club, daily 2-5pm.

Scenic Practices: A Christmas Tale Dec 18, 6 p.m. at the Auditorio de la Ribera (Boulvard De Jin XI #123, 45920 Ajijic). $50 pesos. Classical ballet, contemporary dance and a Christmas Carol.

Have an event that you'd like to see included next month? Email me the info.

Here are a few of the things that have gone on in the last month, which if you went to these events, perhaps you saw. If you missed them, stay subscribed to this newsletter and also follow The Lakeside Guide on Facebook to keep up with the latest happenings around Ajijic and Lake Chapala.

The escaramuza charra team "La Media Luna" from Atotonilquillo, Jalisco, perform during an exhibition last Sunday in Chapala. An escaramuza is a woman who rides in coordinated horse riding exhibitions and competitions, a relatively new addition to Mexico's hundreds-year-old sport-art, la charrería.

See more photos of escaramuzas in Ajijic.

A charro demonstrates his roping technique during Sunday's exhibition in Chapala. The day was a fundraiser to help cover the costs of an escaramuza's medical expenses. Such events, called a kermes, are a common way for communities in Mexico to come together to help someone in a time of need. There is another upcoming event this Friday, December 7 (see "Charreada Horse Show" above, under "Other Events Going On This Month").

See more photos of charros in Ajijic.

A cuetero shoots a rocket into the air during a procession for the Fiestas de San Andrés on November 21 in Ajijic. A cuetero and his assistant usually follow the pueblo's processions with a bundle of rockets, which helps townspeople know when the procession is about to start and where to join it once it's underway.

See more photos and info about the Fiestas de San Andrés, which happen at the end of every November.

During the Fiestas de San Andrés, a fireworks show happens every night around 10 p.m., featuring one of these incredible, hand-assembled fireworks castles, called a castillo. Made of wooden frames and metal poles that allow parts to rotate, these castles can reach four stories tall.

Check out this photo essay about fireworks castles in Ajijic.

Aztec dancer Humberto Ayala dances in the procession for the Fiestas de San Andrés in Ajijic last month.

See more photos and learn more about the Fiestas de San Andrés.

This float showing the Assumption of Mary was part of the procession for Ajijic's patroness, Our Lady of the Rosary, which happens every October 31. The procession includes floats with actors portraying biblical scenes along with Aztec dancers and marching bands.

Berenice López, a teen from one of the preparatory schools in Chapala, is dressed as a catrina in front of an altar on the Day of the Dead for Juanita "La Japonesa" (The Japanese) Reed. Reed was born in Cuba in 1928 and lived in Ajijic in the 70s, where she is remembered for her philanthropical projects. The boat "Lupita" on the Ajijic malecón is a permanent memorial to her.

See more photos of catrinas on the Day of the Dead.

Women are dressed as catrinas during the November 2 Night of the Dead parade that goes from the cemetery to the Ajijic plaza.

See more photos from the past eight years of the Day of the Dead at Lake Chapala.

Elena Rangel weaves on a telar de cintura (belt loom), which originated in Pre-Hispanic times, during the Feria Maestros del Arte last month in Chapala. The feria brings together almost 100 of Mexico's finest artisans each November.

See more photos this year's feria.

On Revolution Day on November 20 in Ajijic, a boy dons a torito, which is a papier-mâché bull with fireworks that shoots sparks and noise as the bearer runs around. It's a popular way to celebrate during fiestas in Mexico. On this day, which is centered around school groups, the bull had but one lone sparkler which was eventually lit and sent out a little stream of sparks.

See more photos and learn about Revolution Day.

Sergio Hernández dances in the Ajijic plaza on Revolution Day. Sergio and his friends are originally from San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, and now travel southern and central Mexico to perform in festivals and on the street.

See more photos of them and other Aztec dancers.

Fine Art Photography of Lake Chapala, Mexico

Photos by Dane Strom

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