Bernalillo may be a small town, but it’s rich with tradition. One of its grandest traditions returns next week. The 333rd Fiestas de San Lorenzo honor the town’s patron saint with meals, processions, dances and the ceremonial transfer of a statue of St. Lawrence of Rome.
The events start at 2 p.m. Sunday, with an assembly of dancers followed by prayers and dances. A small farmer’s market and bouncy house will be part of the festivities.
Monday’s events include a Fiesta Mass at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, lunch at 1 p.m., and a 3:50 p.m. La Promesa dance in which community members are invited to participate. At 4:15, there will be a procession through the town along State Route 313 (Camino Del Pueblo).
Matachines Dances — stories told through dance — are scheduled for both Monday and Tuesday. Other Tuesday events include the movement of the San Lorenzo statue to the home of its new hosts, the Baca-Garcia family (the Quintana y Torres family is the current Mayordomo host for the saint).
Christina Jones, economic & community development director for the Town of Bernalillo, told The Paper the weekend is due to Los Mayordomos, the central organizing and caretaking group responsible for the entire Matachines dance tradition. The Mayordomos are the community’s stewards of the sacred santo (statue of San Lorenzo), she said, and take on responsibilities that include training the Malinches (female dancers) and Arcos (male dancers) beforehand, feeding the dancers and community and organizing musicians and prayer teams.
Jones said the Fiestas this year are taking place after the Musica y Mas concert series at Rotary Park, which will feature nine bands playing over Saturday and Sunday.