Governor celebrates Day of the Flowers

Libia Dennise said she issued a Decree to declare the University of Guanajuato’s Universitarian Theater, the staging of the Entremeses Cervantinos and the performances of the Juglares, as Intangible Cultural Heritage of the State of Guanajuato

Libia gave out flowers and ice cream to Guanajuatenses and tourists who walked around the historic center of the State Capital

Guanajuato/Gto News

The Governor of the People, Libia Dennise Garcia Munoz Ledo, and the President of the State DIF, Juan Carlos Montesinos Carranza, participated this morning in the traditional celebrations for the Day of the Flowers and Good Friday, giving flowers to passers by in the historic center of the Capital.

As part of this tradition, they gave out ice cream on the steps of the Juarez Theater to Guanajuatenses and tourists strolling through the Jardin de la Unión. The Legal and Expanded Cabinet also participated, as did the Mayor of Guanajuato, Samantha Smith Gutierrez.

The Day of the Flowers is an emblematic holiday in the city of Guanajuato, celebrated annually on the Friday before Palm Sunday, also known as the Friday of Sorrows. This tradition, celebrated for more than 139 years, has deep religious and cultural roots that have evolved to become a highly significant celebration.

In Guanajuato, this devotion dates back to the late 16th or early 17th century, when altars in honor of the Virgin began to be erected in homes and public spaces. Over time, this practice evolved into the Day of the Flowers, where religious veneration is intertwined with cultural and social expressions.

The altars in honor of the Virgin of Sorrows, as is the tradition of the Cuevanenses, begin to be set up on Thursday night and early Friday. Flower vendors also set up shop on Thursday in the Jardin de la Union and nearby streets.

Local and foreign merchants set up stalls, while restaurants and cafes offer special menus and tastings. Government agencies, civic organizations, and businesses often organize food shows in the Union Garden.

The water or ice cream given on this day symbolizes Mary’s tears.

Distinguished Guanajuatense Recognition Awarded

The Governor of the People presided over the ceremony for the Distinguished Guanajuato Award, as part of the Day of the Flowers.

“Thank you very much to the members of the Honorable City Council of Guanajuato for the invitation to join them for this significant ceremony. It has been a wonderful morning of sharing and mingling with the great community of the municipality, and with the hundreds of visitors who are enjoying this beautiful, colorful, and festive tradition,” said Libia Dennise.

The Governor said that Luz Maria Pons Liceaga, a living legend of Guanajuato City, is a woman who fought for her rights, for equality among men and women, and for respect for women’s dignity.

“At a time when women’s role was limited to household chores, she decided to become a traffic officer. The first female traffic officer in the entire country! This event marked a cultural revolution and was a turning point in the performance of women in public office”, said Libia.

“Teacher Luz Maria: our gratitude and recognition for paving the way for women and for leaving an indelible mark on the history of our Capital City,” said the Governor.

Libia also recognized Joaquín “El Flaco” Arias Espinoza for his lifetime of dedication to promoting culture in various fields. This illustrious Guanajuatense native has many achievements, in addition to his distinguished career in the University of Guanajuato Theater for more than four decades.

Arias Espinoza is the founder of Los Juglares de Guanajuato, a prestigious and long-standing theater group deeply rooted in our city’s cultural scene. He also inspired the creation of the Estudiantina (Student Group) of the University of Guanajuato.

And in the “posthumous” category , today we celebrate the life and the pictorial, photographic, and literary work of Manuel Leal Guerrero, the Governor emphasized.

“A distinguished visual and literary chronicler who captured the essence and soul of the people of this city, as well as its landscapes, its characters, and its traditions. He was a professor at the University of Guanajuato who trained generations of artists, passionately transmitting his love for the cultural richness of this land,” said Libia Dennise.

The Governor said that the People’s Government has issued a Decree to declare the University of Guanajuato’s University Theater, the staging of the Entremeses Cervantinos and the performances of the Juglares, as Intangible Cultural Heritage of the State of Guanajuato.

“It’s a tribute to the University Theater, which is celebrating 72 years of maintaining a tradition that gave rise to our magnificent International Cervantino Festival,” said Libia Dennise.

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