by Kenny Kenny

Hola Music Lovers! This month celebrates the musicians’ day of Santa Cecilia on Nov 22nd. A day for musicians, and by long standing tradition Santa Cecilia day is celebrated by the local musicians’ union here with music, a procession and a big party for the musicians and their families.

First the activity starts on Nov 21st with a procession at 4pm from Fuente del Sol, in Zihuatanejo (the plaza area around the Sol beer plant at the main highway intersection) to the church on Cinco de Mayo (directly opposite the Artesians market). All the musicians show up in their full regalia and play their instruments with blaring guitars and flaring trumpets as they parade to the church.

On Sta. Cecilia day itself, Nov 22nd, the music starts at 5am at the church on Cinco de Mayo, with a rousing rendition of “Las Mañanitas”, the good morning song used for birthdays in Mexico. All the musicians of union local #52 join in, with all their varied instruments and varied styles of music and a church service is held after the playing of “Las Mañanitas.”

If you like a cultural event, follow us to the church on the 21st or wait at Banditos next to the church for pictures of all the musicians Zihuatanejo has to offer. Or if you happen to be up at 5am on the 22nd (and if you happen to be sleeping near by—you will be) come by the church for the morning song. After the church service, a big musicians party follows with lots of music and revelry for the entire day, but you have to be a union member to get invited. It’s truly a day for the musicians, who are always playing for someone else’s fiestas, to celebrate and to play for each other and their families.

Kenny Kenny is a local musician and member of Musicians Union #52 whose has lived in Zihua for 12 years. You can se Kenny-Kenny nightly at the prime Rib House in Ixtapa.

November 2001

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