My brother introduced me to San Isidro Labrador (Saint Isidore the Farmer) some years ago. Jorge Homar carries around a small estampita of the saint in his wallet. A cook and farming enthusiast, my brother is passionate about everything related to growing and preparing food. From the moment I realized the saint was working his magic from inside my little brother's wallet, San Isidro has had a piece of my heart.
Then I moved to Albuquerque's semi-rural South Valley to be with my love who is a farmer and is surrounded by a beautiful community of farmers. Last year, on San Isidro's May 15 feast day, I joined our neighborhood's procession and blessing of the waters. It was a beautiful and moving experience.
Every year, a different family is chosen to take care of the saint. Last year, our friend Jorge Alberto and his daughter Maya received the saint during the ceremony. This year, Fidel and I were chosen to be the saint's caretakers! Both of us were elated by the honor, until I realized I was scheduled to be in New York that same weekend due to an equally important honor—leading the Pleneros de la 21's Fiesta de Cruz sung rosary. So Fidel and I had to decline this year, hoping that we might get a chance to host San Isidro in our home in the near future.
Though I was 2,000 miles away, my heart was still here in Albuquerque's South Valley with my love and friends and neighbors celebrating San Isidro. I am grateful to Roberto Rosales who documented last month's event with these gorgeous photos I'm including here.
Margarita greets San Isidro.
Jorge Alberto gets ready for the ceremony.
Jorge presents San Isidro to its new caretakers.
Pablo, Andrea, and San Isidro.
Danzantes.
Fidel.
Blessing of the water 1: Petals for San Isidro
Blessing of the water 2: Petals for San Isidro
Blessing of the water 3: Petals for San Isidro
*** Photos by Roberto Rosales.
7 comments:
'From the moment I realized the saint was working his magic from inside my little brother's wallet, San Isidro has had a piece of my heart.'
This, I love. And understand.
I didn't know Fidel was a farmer?
I, too, am grateful to Rosales for these evoking images.
Que bello, gracias por compartir esto Titi Raqui.
Un Abrazote!
@Suze: Yes! Fidel is part of an urban farming collective called Agri-Cultura Network. They sell at the Downtown Farmer's Market on Saturdays and also at a few more.
@Titi Vero: Gracias, Titi Vero. Y si andas por estos lares, ¡me visitas!
La realidad es hermosa! Eso pensé al leer esto, al ver las fotos.
Totalmente de acuerdo, Yari mi Yari. Te abrazo fuerte.
Que lindo, me encanto poder ver las fotos!
¡Pues aquí te esperamos en Nuevo Mágico!
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