Statue of San Ysidro AFSC New Mexico
On May 13, 2023, community members gathered to honor the patron saint of farmers, San Ysidro, and to pray for rain from the patron saint of drought, Santa Maria de la Cabeza.
The four-centuries-old tradition comes from Spain, but the celebration AFSC NM helps organize in the South Valley includes indigenous peoples’ prayers and interpretations of the celebration. We partner with the South Valley Regional Association of Acequias, the Azteca danzantes called Circulo Solar Ollin Xochipilli, and the indigenous-led organization La Plazita.
Each year a farming couple is chosen to take care of the statue of San Ysidro during a lovely ceremony called the Entrega. They are called padrinos, and the couple from last year passes the basked filled with farm-grown food, spring flowers and the statue to this year’s couple. This year part of the celebration included a Navajo corn ceremony and, for the first time, the Albuquerque Friends led a prayer and moment of silence.
AFSC New Mexico
One of my favorite parts of the cermony is when the children make their offering by placing rose petals into the acequia (community ditch). My own daughter has been part of this tradition since she was six years old. The procession of people, led by the Aztec dancers, flows on the bank alongside the petals.
The prayers shared that Saturday morning were spoken in Spanish, English, Navajo, Lakota, and Nahuatl. Later that day it rained—the first time in a 58 day dry spell! And it continued to rain every day for four days, which delighted everyone. We thank God our Creator who has many names in various cultures and who, in love, provides us with the gracious and beautiful gifts of earth, water, and sun.