Bernalillo is gearing up for its 331st annual Las Fiestas de San Lorenzo from Aug. 9 to 11, celebrating the town’s history, culture and religious traditions honoring San Lorenzo, whose feast day is Aug. 10.
The fiestas date back to the town’s refounding, celebrating a promise made to its patron saint, San Lorenzo, for safe passage following the Pueblo Indian Revolt of 1680. The event features traditional Matachines dances, processions, and communal gatherings, highlighting the rich fusion of Spanish and Native American cultures.
“The fiestas are almost a second Christmas to us,” Robb Sisneros, Rezado of the Fiestas de San Lorenzo said. “It is a time for relatives from all over the place to come and meet and gather. ”
The history of Las Fiestas de San Lorenzo is a rich tapestry interwoven with cultural heritage and religious tradition. It began with the Pueblo Revolt of Aug. 10, 1680, when the Pueblo people revolted and expelled the Spanish. It is believed that Native Americans from Sandia Pueblo warned the residents in and around Bernalillo about the impending revolt, allowing the non-native residents to flee to “El Realito de San Lorenzo” (present-day El Paso, Texas).
In 1693, Diego de Vargas re-settled New Mexico and made a vow that anyone returning to New Mexico should commemorate Aug. 10 annually. Grateful for their lives being spared, the Bernalillo residents thanked San Lorenzo and God. They learned the Matachines dance in El Paso and brought it back to Bernalillo, performing it every year since 1693.
“Three hundred thirty-one years later, here we are still celebrating this promise and this celebration of community and the friendship and bond with our neighbors and also with our ancestors who made the promise,” Sisneros said.
The three-day fiestas take place throughout the town. At Rotary Park, the town hosts Música y Más, an event with a variety of food trucks, vendors and musical entertainment all three days.
“Música y Más will have really, really great entertainment on Friday, Saturday and Sunday,” Mayor Jack Torres said. “Several of the artists performing are Bernalillo natives and/or Bernalillo residents.”
Los Matachines
The highlight of the fiestas is the ritual dance drama known as Los Matachines. Recognized by the town’s website as the original and largest Matachines dance in the region, this tradition is a cornerstone of Bernalillo’s identity.
“As for me, my involvement with the tradition is one of the central tenets of my life and identity. It means family, history, tradition and pride. My 22 years as a dancer are indicative of my desire to ensure that our language and culture, especially this tradition, continue another 300+ years,” said Joseph A.J. Moreno, Matachines danzante capitan/scholar, Metro Center director at New Mexico Highlands University and Bernalillo Community Museum advisory council member.
The Bernalillo Matachines dance is made up of two dances — la danza and la corrida. La danza tells the story of the conquest of the Aztec people by Hernán Cortés in the 1500s, according to Moreno’s book on the history of the Matachines dance in Bernalillo.
Three main figures in the Matachines dance are El Monarca, Malinche and El Toro. El Monarca, representing Montezuma, leads the dance and symbolizes the Aztec leader. Malinche, dressed in white, represents Montezuma’s daughter and is seen as a key figure in her father’s conversion to Christianity. El Toro, symbolizing evil and paganism, roams the dance area attempting to distract El Monarca, Malinche and the dancers from embracing the new religion.
Along with the danzantes or dancers, the procession through town includes musicians, rezadores (prayer leaders) and officials who handle crowd control. Following the dancers is a large crowd, including the dancers’ families and followers of San Lorenzo. Everyone is welcome to participate in the festivities.
During the procession, three images of San Lorenzo are carried on wooden platforms. The main image, called the stampa, is accompanied by a smaller image known as the bulto and a wooden carving of the saint.
The highest honor in the Matachines dance is hosting San Lorenzo. The family who takes on this role for the year, the mayordomos, hosts the stampa and is responsible for feeding the dancers and keeping their doors open for prayer. Three meals are served to dancers and the public during the fiesta. Mayordomos also collect la limosna (donations) for the event. This year’s mayordomos are Joseph and Diana Garcia and their family.
Schedule of events
Aug. 9 Las Visperas
2 p.m. – Danzantes assemble at the Garcia residence
2 p.m. – La Novena
3 p.m.- La Danza Matachines Dance
3:50 p.m. – La Promesa dance, everyone is welcome to participate
4 p.m. – Supper hosted by the mayordomos
5:30 p.m. – Danzantes assemble at the Garcia residence
6 p.m. – Procession to the Santuario De San Lorenzo
7 p.m. – Visperas at the Santuario De San Lorenzo
Aug. 10 Las Fiestas
9:30 a.m. – Danzantes assemble at Our Lady Of Sorrows Church
10 a.m. – Fiesta Mass at Our Lady Of Sorrows Church
11:30 a.m. – Procession to the Garcia residence
1 p.m. – Lunch hosted by the mayordomos
2:30 p.m. – Danzantes assemble at the Garcia residence
3 p.m. – La Danza Matachines dance
3:50 p.m. – La Promesa dance, everyone is welcome to participate
4:30 p.m. – Procession through the town of Bernalillo
5:30 p.m. – Supper hosted by the mayordomos
6 p.m. – Velorio De San Lorenzo all-night vigil at Garcia’s home
Midnight – Las Mananitas De San Lorenzo
Aug. 11 La Entrega
6 a.m. – Las Mananitas De San Lorenzo & El Alba
8:20 a.m.- Danzantes assemble at the Garcia home
8:45 a.m.- La Danza & La Promesa Matachines dance
9:10 a.m. – Despedida Del Santo
9:15 a.m. – Procession to the new mayordomos residence:
Felicia Baca, the Carabajal and Martinez Families, 1150 Calle San Lorenzo
10:15 a.m. – Recibimiento Del Santo
11 a.m. – Return to the Garcia residence
Noon -La Entrega Return Danzantes to their families
BOX:
Where: Throughout Bernalillo, music in Rotary Park
When: Aug. 9-11, times vary
More info: tobnm.gov/departments/community_planning_and_development/san_lorenzo_history