It's Easter Sunday and today's big event in San Miguel de Allende is called Quema de Judas which translates literally to Burning of Judas. Each paper mâché figure has a wooden ring around its waist with firecrackers attached to the ring. The event begins at noon, but you really have to get there early. We staked out our places in the Jardin Principal only to be moved back several feet as a safety measure. We still had a great view of the burning/blowing up. I recommend that if you go, you wear earplugs as we did.
In 2016, the paper mâché figures had names on them. Sometimes the figures stood for narcos or politicians or even Donald Trump. In fact in 2016, there were several Donald Trump effigies. This year I expected more Trump effigies, and for sure I thought I'd see Vladimir Putin represented. However, this year just the sponsors had their names on the effigies. It took some of the revenge fun out of watching the figures burn and blow up.
Before lighting any of the firecrackers, the street is cleared and spectators must stay behind the ropes at either end of the street. We were standing behind a rope just across from the hanging Judases. Only one Judas is lit at a time. The firecrackers pop and the figure begins to spin around eventually exploding when the last firecracker catches. Body parts fly in every direction. Firefighters are on hand to put out anything still burning when it hits the ground.
The paper mâché heads usually stay in one piece. Each head is collected and then sold at the end of the event to anyone who wants a souvenir.
Souvenir hunters can pick up body parts for free and kids run to grab the best pieces.
The devil is always a popular figure to blow up.
That is the end of Semana Santa 2022. This morning before Quema de Judas we managed to get our pre-departure Covid-19 tests. We were negative despite all the close encounters. Tomorrow we take a shuttle to the airport in Mexico City and will be home that same day.
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