A bit of Background: The San Patricios were an army battalion in the Mexican Army made up largely of Irish immigrants (there were other nationalities as well, including Canadians) who came to the U.S to escape the Irish Potato Famine and joined the U.S. Army as a path to citizenship. During the war many of the San Patricios would face their Mexican "enemies" all week long. On Sunday, however, they would put down their guns and cross the border into Mexico to go to church and play soccer with their fellow Catholics, the very same Mexicans with whom they were at war.
Eventually, many of the Irish deserted and joined forces with Mexico. Those who did so before the war broke out were considered deserters. Those who fought for Mexico after the war broke out were defectors. When the war ended, each San Patricio was arrested and given a court martial trial. The deserters were branded on their faces with a "D." The defectors were hung in what some say is the largest mass execution in U.S. military history. To honor these brave men, whom Mexico calls heroes and the U.S. calls traitors, there are two celebrations held in parts of Mexico: Sept. 12, the anniversary of their execution, and March 17, St. Patrick's Day. http://adage.com/article/the-big-tent/mexicans-celebrate-st-patrick-s-day/125694/
Barra de Navidad is about 5 minutes away from what is commonly knows as Melaque and is a populary snowbird destination for Canadians. Melaque is actually three towns, Melaque, Villa Obregón, and San Patricio, seemlessly joined together. With St. Patrick being the patron saint of San Patricio Melaque hosts one of the biggest St. Patrick's day celebrations with nightly fireworks in the town square.
All week people we had met in Barra had asked us if we had been to the fireworks yet so we figured if we were ever to embrace Marla's Catholic roots what better time than on St. Patrick's Day in Mexico.
We arrived about 8:30 pm and the town square was buzzing with midway that would do the PGX proud and random fireworks being shot into the crowd just to add some atmosphere. I was disappointed that I had not done a little more research into the appropriate dress for the occasion as Marla obviously stood from the other women in their skinny jeans and 6 inch heels. (As I said there were moments I thought I was 16 again at the PGX) After waiting several hours which included a growing crowd staking their observation spots, Mexican dancers in costume opening the evening Mass, setting up of the fireworks tower and the St. Patrick's Day band warming up the crowd the 9:00 pm fireworks went off right on time at 11:15 pm.
The Fireworks were, as advertised, nuts! The large tower burst into light with shapesof animals and saints spinning and whistling, showering the crowd with sparks. Kids put pieces of cardboard over their heads and ran through the sparks under the structure. Things got really interesting when the fireworks began shooting into the crowd. (I am assuming this is the part that was to pay homage to the soldiers in the war.) Luckily we had taken a que from some French Canadians near us and used a Palm tree as a bit of protection as fireworks landed all around us. Just when I didn't think it was going to get any crazier the top of the tower lite up and shot a huge structure into the air with the illuminated word FINI on it. It quickly became apparent that this was not a structure meant to fizzle out in the air as it quickly descended to earth and crashed into a tree a few feet from us lighting it on fire. Ya, Crazy but in Grame's words AWESOME!!
St. Patrick's Day Band
Tribute to San Patricio
Grande Finale
