Members of the Teatro Acequiero perform in a play about San Isidro. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com
Children enjoy the cool water of the acequia next to the Chimayo Museum. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com
Young people plant seeds in the tilled ground preparing for the release of water from the acequia for irrigation. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com
BY MAIRE O’NEILL
maire@losalamosreporter.com
On Saint Isidore Day – Dia de San Isidro – May 15, people gathered in Chimayo near the museum and Plaza del Cerro. to pray for the blessing of a good growing season, a tradition that has been followed for centuries. San Isidro is the patron saint of farmers and labradores or laborers.
The Los Alamos Reporter was invited to this year’s celebration of San Isidro Labrador and got to witness the traditional activities associated with the feast day, which included carrying the santos, wood representations of San Isidro Labrador and his wife Santa Maria de la Cabeza, in a procession to the fields, singing and casting petals into the acequia. Several miracles are believed to have been performed by San Isidro and some of them were re-enacted later in the day by the Teatro Acequiero.
While waiting for the celebration, neighbors and friends gathered along the acequia near the museum in the shade of the trees as young people with Los Maestros Maestros del Norte put together seed balls and distributed petals to participants to be cast into the acequia on the way to planting for the season. Members of the Hermandad de Truchas led those gathered in song and prayer and Victor Archuleta, president of the Chimayo Cultural Preservation Association explained the history of the day and the gathering. Following prayers for the community, youth and the growing season, there was a blessing of the acequia and the head gate by the giant cottonwood tree was opened.
People cast handfuls of petals in the water as it moved along and singers/guitarists David Garcia and Jeremiah Martinez led the procession through the Plaza del Cerro to an area that had been prepared for planting and irrigation. On arrival at the prepared area, the seeds were planted and irrigated from the acequia for the first time this planting season.
The afternoon ended with refreshments and conversations in the shade.
Jolene Vigil, right, helps Lupe Salazar set up her table in the shade next to the acequia. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com
Bobbie Chacon, Angel Chacon, Heaven Chacon, Amanda Lopez and Navaeh Van Sweraingen prepare seed balls for distribution. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com
David Archuleta, president of the Chimayo Cultural Preservation Association speaks at the May 15 San Isidro Labrador event. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com
People gather under the ‘Grandfather Cottonwood Tree’. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com
Pam Chacon, left shares petals with Lucy Collier. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com
Members of the Hermandad de Truchas pray and sing next to the acequia. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com
Carrying the santos at the celebration of Dia de San Isidro Labrador. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com
Members of Hermandad de Truchas. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com
Jeremiah Martinez, left, and David Garcia play and sing during the celebration. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com
The procession moves along the acequia to Plaza del Cerro. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com
Getting ready to cut the cake for El Dia de San Isidro Labrador are, from left, Lupe Salazar, Serefina Lombardi and Pilar Trujillo. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com