Adoring the Saints: Fiestas in Central Mexico

Two. Fiesta Leaders, Officials,and Saints (Mayordomos, cargueros, y santos)

FieStA leAderS, oFFiCiAlS, And SAintS (Mayordomos, cargueros, y santos) FieStA leAderS And oFFiCiAlS For a patron saint fiesta to occur, an extraordinarily complex organization must be put in place. Many individuals with specific abilities and talents must be mobilized to carry out specific tasks. A network of social and economic ties must be activated, and adequate funding must be found. Central to this organization are the individuals who take on civil-religious roles called cargos. Cargos literally means burdens, and both metaphorically and in practice the term refers to roles or duties. The individuals who hold these roles are the fiesta leaders (mayordomos) and officials (cargueros) (the origins of this system are discussed in chapter six). Being a fiesta leader or official is a significant and respected role in the community. The duties of leaders imply knowledge of what needs to be done and a commitment of finances and time. These duties are transmitted in hereditary fashion from generation to generation in some places. In others, new individuals are named each year. Patron saint fiestas require a large investment of money as well as effort. Although some of the funds might come from the church and the government , most consist of contributions from families, from people who live in the community and their relatives who no longer live there but come for the fiesta from other places—Mexican cities, including the capital, Mexico City, and the “other side” (el otro lado), the north (el norte), or the United States. Individuals and groups in the community, in other parts of Mexico, and in the United States work together to bring about the fiesta. Some officials told us they preferred not to take money from the government so as to preserve their independence and have the fiesta the way they want it. The complex organization of a patron saint fiesta presupposes networks, ties, financial means, commitment, and willingness to help, get involved, and work. Although the fiesta leaders and the officials are in charge of everything, their wives and children contribute in important ways to the activities. In fact, two  fiesta leaders, officials, and saints whole families—brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, and children—all work together. Fiesta leaders and officials also draw on ritual kin, such as godparents (compadres), as well as family members.Women prepare food and make costumes, play instruments, sing, dance, and care for the saints. Some women are actively involved in the fiesta ritual. In some communities, no procession is complete without a female ritual leader (tenancha) walking at the head of the procession carrying a red flag (la pasión) and ringing a small bell. This paraphernalia—the flag and the bell—is sometimes called la rosa. It is noteworthy that women, including female ritual leaders, play important roles in patron saint fiestas. The fiesta leaders (mayordomos) are businessmen, entrepreneurs, managers , and organizers. They oversee the conduct of the fiesta and work with officials to make sure the various activities of the fiesta are organized and executed properly. These activities include gathering various plants, purchasing or otherwise obtaining food, flowers, stick rockets (cohetes), and fireworks, making costumes, overseeing the rehearsals of dancers and musicians, decorating the town and the church, and, most important, taking care of the saints. The build-up to the fiesta and the associated preparations proceed to an intimate and intense crescendo, with everyone working, collaborating, and contributing. The role of the fiesta leaders is pragmatic, materialistic, and efficient, as well as spiritual and sacred. They lead the performance of the Four Winds (Cuatro Vientos) ceremony, and they purify people and objects in cleansing ceremonies (limpias). In many communities they are in charge of asking permission from God, the saint, and the departed souls (ánimas) to hold the fiesta. The departed souls are deceased community members (an example of a permission text is given in appendix C2). These permission ceremonies can occur in various places, such as a calvary or a cemetery. The fiesta leaders are intercessors between the village or town and the patron saints; some of them are recognized as being endowed with special powers and abilities and are recognized as curers and healers. In addition, they participate in helping to build objects, lead processions, and play instruments and sing, and they host meals in their houses. Patron saint fiesta leaders and other officials are also eloquent orators. They make speeches during gatherings, welcoming or bidding farewell to visitors and counseling officials (see examples in the various appendices ). They have...