Flower fair
"Candelaria comes from the word candlemas from when the northern Europeans had mass by candle light to dispel the darkness of winter. Since we are farther south and warmer, Candelaria marks the beginning of Spring. The candles used on Candelaria signify dismissing the cold, awakening the earth and casting out flooding and earthquakes. The candles are also blessed today, then lit to guide lost souls to heaven. They are also a part of the traditions started in honor of Tlaloc, the indigenous God of Rain, that was celebrated this same day.
The site of advanced Amerindian civilizations, Mexico came under Spanish rule for three centuries before achieving independence early in the 19th century. A devaluation of the peso in late 1994 threw Mexico into economic turmoil, triggering the worst... ... read more 
