Salamanca Guilds
Uploaded by
ScribdTranslationsSalamanca Guilds
Uploaded by
ScribdTranslationsSalamanca
Corpus Festivals in Salamanca
Salamanca, Guanajuato.- The annual celebration of the guilds is a tradition.
representative of the popular festivities of Salamanca and of religiosity of
the inhabitants who in the city have been preserving for over four
centuries, although historical data reveals that these celebrations were held in the
New Spain since 1524, as the most splendid and solemn festival of the year.
The feast of the Octave of Corpus Christi or of the Guilds, is the tradition
the oldest and most important religious one preserved in Salamanca, solemn
celebration with more than 450 years of moral and spiritual commitment of
labor and economic organizations in the municipality that are united and
organized, have made it possible for the presentation of the offerings in honor of
Most Holy Sacrament taking place in the Venue in honor of the Patron Christ of
the city: The Lord of the Hospital.
According to data gathered by historians and experts on history of the
It is estimated that the feast of the Octave of Corpus has its origins in
the 10th century, it was the 15th century for the Church to recognize the groups of
offices, urged them to adopt a Patron Saint or a religious image to which
to entrust their work and render worship. Since then, the guilds have been created.
with a religious character.
In Mexico, union activity began with colonization, and the first one was founded.
in the year 1523.
Solemnity of over 450 years
In the early 18th century, with the onset of a prosperous artisanal activity and
commercial in Villa Salamanca, the guild festivity started as a
devotion that the unionized workers dedicated to the Black Christ of the Lord
from the Hospital on the occasion of the celebration of Corpus Christi, in the manner of
gratitude for the favors received in their economic activities.
Among the first guilds that joined the devotion, the one is remembered.
the gardeners, the textile workers, the butchers of Matanzas now, the bakers and
masons, as they were the guilds that represented the main areas of
economic development of the then Villa Salamanca.
The textile workers' guild was the most powerful, their parties were always the
more sumptuous, however the appeal of the celebration was the ones from
bakers' guild, as they made a pilgrimage to the main
streets, in which they represented the way in which the bread was made.
Each guild would choose a representative whom they called 'steward' who
coordinated the activities related to the religious celebration. The
the tradition of all the workers who made up the guild is that they
they would gather to hire a musical band with which they would parade to the house
from the butler to bring him 'the rooster' and as a thank you, he gave them
he would give away some bottles of aguardiente and would join the parade to
continue with the popular celebration.
The celebration gained importance over time and by the mid-17th century it
they integrated new guilds into the devotion of Corpus Christi, among them the one of
small trade, which was formed by the market vendors
locales and those dedicated to street trading; the shoemakers' guild was
one of the most numerous at the end of the 18th century, as they gathered in their
workers from the leather maquiladoras, to the shoeshiners, to the sweaters and to the
shoe sellers; the shoemakers' guild received a strong boost and
support from the 'huaracheros' who then enjoyed great economic power
in the region.
The members made their own fireworks for the celebration.
popular and also prepare the offerings for the image of the Black Christ, among
the enormous figures made of wax and cardboard, baskets ornaments that contained
seasonal fruits and floral arrangements. The textile workers donated each year a
linen for the religious image and another for the parish priest; they were fine embroidered fabrics
delicately and manually. They also donated sumptuous carpets that
they were placed on the temple floor throughout the year.
At the beginning of the 19th century, the trades that previously participated in the celebrations
from Corpus Christi were disappearing and integrating some new ones. For
In 1924, the participating guilds were the blacksmiths, bakers, and butchers.
merchants, textile workers, shoemakers, farmers, bricklayers, and united guilds
(mechanics, hairdressers, tin workers). The celebrations continued as a joy.
popular and a reason for the people of Salamanca to gather around the
image of the Black Christ to give thanks for the blessings received throughout the year
year.
Every year, the guild celebrations begin on the eve of Thursday of
Corpus Christi lasts a little over a week. Currently
workers belonging to the union who practice various trades: bakers,
merchants, textile workers, butchers, masons and bricklayers, shoemakers and
photographers, blacksmiths, and aluminum workers.
These groups organize months in advance to plan the celebration. The
guild festivals begin with the activities of Corpus Christi. The
On Corpus Christi Thursday, a mass dedicated to the Most Holy Sacrament is officiated.
in the Parish of the Lord of the Hospital.
Traditionally, the celebration of each of the guilds begins with "the
"alborada", a ringing of bells and fireworks that announce what
duty corresponds to celebrate during the day. It is customary to hire a
musical band to dedicate "Las Mañanitas" to the image of the black Christ and
the popular harvest of atole, tamales, and bread is not missing.
Another tradition is 'the burning of gunpowder' or the bombs, cardboard figures.
filled with gunpowder that refer to the trades of those who celebrate: shoes, bread
houses, oxen. The figures are placed in the latticework of the temple atrium and to
At one in the afternoon, they are lit to impress the people who gather to
to watch the figures with curiosity and then listen to the rumble when they explode.
Upon arriving at the Church, the guilds are welcomed by the Parish Priest who
Symbolically they are given the wax that they offered. Upon entering, the wax was removed.
The day before, I had left the outgoing guild and was left with the guild in
function.
After 'the entry of the wax into the temple'. In the steward's house it begins
the route in which the members march through the streets of the city,
bringing their offerings, especially scaled wax candles, figures
high-quality handcrafted items that impress the people who go out to see them
wax figures are sculptures, some colorful with motifs
floral, most with religious details. Upon arriving at the temple, the priest them
receives, thanks them and welcomes them, allowing the members
place your offerings throughout the main nave and at the altar. The offerings
they remain in the temple until the next day, when the next guild
the person in charge of the celebration places their corresponding offerings.
At night, the burning of the traditional castle takes place, a structure with a
approximate height of ten meters with different shapes and effects of
lighting effects from burning gunpowder for people to rejoice in
to contemplate the spectacle caused by fireworks in the darkness.
Thousands of people join the celebration of the guilds, among the
spectators and organizers in more than a week of continuous festivities in
those who thank the Black Christ for the kindness towards the members and
reaffirms the devotion of the Catholic people before Corpus Christi.
The annual celebration of the guilds is a representative tradition of the
popular celebrations of Salamanca and the religiosity of its inhabitants, each
One of the activities carried out during the practice confirms to us that it is, without
doubt, a fundamental part of the cultural heritage of Salamanca.
According to the Dictionary of the Spanish Language, the word 'Gremio' means the
corporation formed by teachers, officers, and apprentices of the same
profession and trade.
All those workers who collaborated in the Corpus festival
Christi and in corporations where not only the teachers entered,
officials and apprentices, but also the relatives, organized with many
days in advance all the details for the "guild day" that exists
various in the city, each one occupies a day of the week, establishing a
a kind of competitions with their decorations and sumptuousness, that entered to
to be part of the honor of the guild and a reflection of its power.
Over time, the organization of the Guilds without losing their essence or their
celebration program has undergone changes related to the
work and merchant activities, which is why they have changed the
participating mayordomías as well as some festivities that were beginning a
week before the Thursday of Corpus, with the participation of Gardeners,
Small Commerce
mechanics, blacksmiths, and others, culminating on Thursday with the Farmers, the latter
considered one of the most powerful guilds in the region, for being the
municipality a zone highly rich in the quality of its lands, and in the
presentation of offerings showcased the best music bands,
polished wax and colorful castles.
Currently, the guilds participate in the feast of Corpus Christi with a
participation program that starts the festivities on Wednesday, a day before
of Corpus Thursday and is carried out as follows: Blacksmiths, Bakers,
Merchants
United Guilds, Farmers; United Guilds formed by: Mechanics,
Hairdressers, Bodyworkers, etc.
For two years, the Municipal Presidency through the House of Culture
participates in the last Guild that corresponded to the Farmers. Starting from
In 2010, they joined the organization of Voceadores and Artisans, coming together with
Textile Guild to offer the festival on Saturday.
