La Feria in San Miguel Escobar
Juan Carlos, Manuel, and Danilo standing in front of Iglesia Catolica San Miguel Escobar, decorated for La Feria
Something is brewing in the coffee growing community of San Miguel Escobar, located in the outskirts of Antigua, Guatemala. Every year at the end of September, community members come together for its “feria”. The festivities are centered around the date of September 29, but the celebrations usually last for around two weeks.
Days leading up to the feria are filled with anticipation as music fills the streets and families come together to share meals and memorable moments together. These two weeks are filled with traditional music, where marimba groups and local bands perform, religious services, fireworks, processions, and of course, eating lots of traditional Guatemalan food.
Why is the annual feria relevant to San Miguel Escobar?
San Miguel Escobar is a town with rich Catholic traditions and cultural pride. Its heritage comes to life every year in September as the community comes together to celebrate this annual day, which represents a deep cultural meaning for the community. “It’s a time of a lot of joy and celebration,” says coffee producer and cooperative member Eduardo Hernández.
The central focus of this celebration is to honor the Catholic saint, San Miguel Arcángel (Saint Michael the Archangel), whose figure carries a spiritual significance for members of the community and is also one the most well-known and significant archangels in Catholicism. The name of this small town is actually derived from San Miguel, and is regarded as the patron and protector of San Miguel Escobar.
In the midst of celebrations, an image of San Miguel Arcángel is carried in a procession through the streets of the town. Accompanying the procession are many prayers, hymns, incense, and fireworks. The sculpture of San Miguel has a place in the plaza within the center of San Miguel Escobar, located nearby the main church, however a replica of the original sculpture is passed from family to family. Some families are given the honor of temporarily hosting a replica of the saint in their homes. It has become traditional for families to take on this responsibility, which is also believed to be a great honor, as it grants blessings and good fortune to its recipients. Beyond visiting the replica in the homes of community members and church leaders, people in San Miguel Escobar attend a special holy mass hosted by the Bishop of the Diocese, who is the chief pastor and spiritual leader of the town’s Catholic church.
“After the holy mass, there is normally a procession [that passes] through the entire town, visiting the different holy sites and altars, and the people accompany this procession … Sometimes I have to give a [coffee] tour on [the days of the procession], and after the tour I would say, ‘hey, do you want to see the procession?”
While narrating his town’s traditions, he notes that his favorite activity is undoubtedly the marimba concerts.
“After the celebration, [San Miguel Escobar] is very joyful with all the concerts and marimba band … There are people in the town who are in charge of raising the funds to be able to have the concert [every year] and it really brings people a lot of joy.”
Other than religious traditions in San Miguel Escobar, the feria carries a great cultural and social aspect to it. At night, the streets are illuminated by firework displays, and the central plaza becomes filled with food stalls and vendors, selling traditional Guatemalan food like tamales, tostadas, atol, and dulces (candies). Colorful decorations, banners, and flowered altars transform streets into festive spaces. Families walk through their beloved town, children play, and neighbors reconnect in this joyful environment.
Plaza San Miguel Escobar decorated for La Feria
A Communal Celebration of Traditions
Over the years, the San Miguel feria has brought a communal sense of devotion and pride, but also joy and happiness for many members of the community and visitors from neighboring towns, and from around the world. Eduardo always looks forward to the feria, year after year as he sees his friends and family organize, celebrate, and share their culture in the robust way that they have been doing for hundreds of years. He and other members of our partner cooperative, The Coffee Growers of San Miguel Escobar, continue to offer opportunities for travelers to get to know the traditions of their communities.
Ultimately, the feria in San Miguel Escobar is a reminder of how traditions keep communities united across generations. What begins as religious devotions to San Miguel Arcángel has increasingly grown into a celebration that becomes an annual event. It’s a time where neighbors open their homes and families pass on stories to their children. The entire town is renewed with solidarity and joy, and are also grateful for the chance to honor their protector and to celebrate the strength of their community.