December 8th: The Feast of the Immaculate Conception, State Fervor

If you visit Michoacán during the month of December, you will find that religious fervor extends beyond Lake Pátzcuaro, creating a circuit of Marian celebrations.

While in Pátzcuaro the Virgin of Health is celebrated (whose main feast day is also on December 8, the Day of the Immaculate Conception), the city of Morelia carries out one of its longest religious festivities in the Temple of the Immaculate Conception.

A Festival That Lasts for Months

What makes this celebration special is not only the faith, but also its duration and scale. The festival formally begins on December 8th. and, with various cultural and religious activities, extends until February 4th..

During this period, the area around the temple (in the Vasco de Quiroga Colony) is transformed into a huge fair where unique traditions are experienced:

• Fireworks and the Dragon: The burning of a spectacular fireworks display is the highlight. In recent years, the lighting of a monumental “Dragon” has become famous; this allegorical structure is burned in the atrium and attracts thousands of visitors.

• Popular Festival: The area fills with music bands, Mexican snacks, sporting events and a fair atmosphere that lasts for weeks, ideal if you are traveling with family.

• Link to Pátzcuaro: Both cities celebrate the Immaculate Conception of Mary. In Morelia, it is the parish feast day; in Pátzcuaro, the same date is the main day of the Basilica of Our Lady of Health, the image made of sugarcane paste commissioned by Don Vasco de Quiroga and which is the Patron Saint of the Archdiocese.

Our Recommendation: If you're in Pátzcuaro for the December 8th festivities and plan to visit Morelia, we suggest taking advantage of this festival, which runs until early February. It's the perfect opportunity to experience Michoacán's cultural syncretism on a massive urban scale, either before or after immersing yourself in the traditions of this Pueblo Mágico (Magical Town).