Dia de Los Locos ( Day of the Crazy People) 2009

This year’s Dia de Los Locos (Day of the Crazy People), San Miguel’s version of Mardi Gras, took place on June 14th. An estimated 10,000 plus people celebrated with colorful costumes and paraded through the streets of San Miguel de Allende.

Dia de los Locos began in the 1700’s with orchard workers dancing to give thanks and to ask San Pasqual Bailón for a prosperous year. Soon, people wearing frightening costumes joined the celebration and danced around holding snakes and rats. It is said that the early onlookers would see them coming and scream “here come the crazy people!” The modern version of Dia de Los Locos is a combination of multiple celebrations, Day of San Isidro, the patron saint of peasants and laborers, Day of San Pascual Bailón, Corpus Christi and Day of San Antonio, the saint of marriage. The controlled chaos that is Dia de los Locos is actually well organized. The dancers are divided into four main groups, which in turn are subdivided into smaller groups, each with its own theme and dance. The theme is chosen several months before the event, and the participants spend up to half a year preparing their costumes.
Every year, thousands of onlookers will crowd the sidewalks, and a lucky few will gather on second story balconies and rooftops of buildings for a better view of the parade. The parade participants throw out candy, and the smart ones will catch the candy with inverted umbrellas. This year, Antonieta walked from Antigua Capilla Bed and Breakfast to meet with friends and view the parade from a second story window above the new restaurant, El Gozo, which, by the way, serves delicious chicken wings and ribs and one liter Micheladas…yum!
If your considering a hotel in San Miguel de Allende, consider staying at Antigua Capilla Bed and Breakfast.