Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi at the Coyote House

October 4th: Saint Francis and the Soul of Ihuatzio 🕯️

Saint Francis of Assisi is the most omnipresent saint in the lake region; his Franciscan influence makes October 4th a major holiday in many towns, including the city of Pátzcuaro itself.

However, there is a crucial difference. While in other places the celebration is primarily liturgical or a fair, in Ihuatzio the festival is a profound cultural phenomenon. Here, the celebration preserves intact the indigenous social structure and the purest syncretism. If you are looking for the most authentic experience, where the Catholic faith truly merges with the Purépecha worldview, your destination should be the “House of the Coyote”.

👥 The Guardians: Freighters and Uandaris The first thing you'll notice is that nothing here is improvised. The festival is the result of a year of "El Costumbre," a fascinating system of social organization:

• The Freighters They are the captains who have kept the image of the saint in their homes throughout the year, saving and working for this moment.

• The Uandaris (Those who have the voice): They are the conductors of the social orchestra. Married couples, speakers of the language, and sages of tradition. They oversee that every step, every offering, and every dance is done “as it should be.” To see them in action is to see the indigenous hierarchy in action.

🐚 The Purépecha Mass: A Sensory Rite We highly recommend you attend the liturgical celebration. It's not an ordinary mass. It's a Purépecha Masswhere incense blends with copal, and the organ gives way to the kiringua and the snail. It is a mystical moment where the Catholic faith is expressed through ancestral symbols: the altar is filled with the fruits of the earth (corn, squash) and prayers are offered in the native language. It is living proof that faith here has deep roots.

⚔️ Dance and Theatre: Moors and Soldiers Upon entering the atrium, the solemnity gives way to color. The dances of Moors and Soldiers (or Moors and Christians) take over the square. More than a dance, it is an ancient theatrical performance (inherited from the missionary dramas of the 16th century) where historical or theological battles are staged, but reinterpreted today as an offering of resistance and devotion to the Patron Saint.

🍲 The Sacred Banquet The party ends on the palate. Under the supervision of the UandarisThe women of Ihuatzio prepare tons of traditional food. churipo, the corundas And the handmade tortillas circulate among locals and visitors. On this day, sharing food is a way of connecting with the community.

✨ Traveler's Tip: Visita Ihuatzio el mero día October 4th for the main mass and the dances, or ask for the “Octava” (eight days later), when the party continues in a more relaxed and intimate atmosphere with the inhabitants.