MÉRIDA.- The patron saint’s day of Our Lady of the Assumption of San Sebastian was recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of the State.
An appointment that, according to the local community, confirms the validity of a tradition that promotes religiosity and faith.
This is how he expressed it priest Lorenzo Mex Jiménezparish priest of the community, about the approval issued by the Yucatan State Congress regarding the declaration that distinguishes this celebration held every August in that historic neighborhood.
The decision, as we reported at the time, was endorsed last Thursday, December 4.
Festival of Our Lady of the Assumption, cultural heritage of Yucatán
The priest stressed that the initiative did not arise from Archdiocese of Yucatanbut of members of the different unions that actively participate in the festival.
“This recognition has already been made official by the legislators, which reflects the feelings of our people in the face of the forcefulness of the traditions, since some unions have been in existence for more than one hundred years.”.
He added that this decree constitutes a recognition of an unavoidable reality that responds to the identity of those who make up the unions.
The parish priest indicated that he became aware of the proposal once he was in the State Congress, and stressed that approval was achieved unanimously.
Regarding the value of the declaration, he expressed that it represents the importance of caring for and strengthening the traditions that, over the years, have reinforced community religiosity and have contributed to consolidating the identity of the neighborhood.
“It is very notable that San Sebastián has a face that no other community has, due to the influence of that religiosity around the devotion to the Blessed Virgin of Mary on his Assumption into Heaven”.
The priest Mex Jiménez considered that this tradition has endured in San Sebastián thanks to the simplicity of its population.
He added that the religiosity of the neighborhood is reflected in the organization of similar unions in other municipalities, such as ticwhere their activities are in September and October, and they have managed to maintain themselves with great visibility.
He considered that it is largely due to the historical support of the parish priests who have served in the community and the religious roots of the inhabitants.
He referred especially to the legacy of more than half a century of presence of the priests Maryknoll Missionarieswho showed deep respect for popular religiosity.
“Pastoral work has allowed people to remain very attached to these events and for their faith to mature through devotion to the Virgin Mary in her Assumption, which is expressed in different ways: with guilds, songs, banners and traditions linked to pyrotechnics.”.
San Sebastián neighborhood in Mérida, “a living space”
The priest described the San Sebastián neighborhood as a lively, festive and participatory spacetraits that, he assured, provide identity to both the community and the parish and contribute to the firmness of their traditions.
Likewise, he pointed out that participation in unions is a practice transmitted from generation to generation.
He recalled that the activity of the guilds in honor of San Sebastián, in January, influenced the initiative to extend the celebration to nine days.
He explained that until two years ago there was only one guild dedicated to Saint Sebastian, patron of the church, and that, with the desire to increase its presence, the integration of new groups was promoted.
The response from the community was positive and now there are nine complete groups: “Let’s hope they remain, because they help a lot to live the faith“, held.
The festival of the Virgin of the Assumption, now recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage, is celebrated every August 15.