Fiesta de Santa Úrsula

During the week, celebration masses are held. There are rides, fireworks, music and dancing. On Saturday, they "take down" the Santo Cristo de Xitla (Holy Christ of Xitla) to be veiled. The virgin is dressed and crowned as the bands and chinelos go through the streets of the town transferring the floral cover.

The next day, Sunday, at five o'clock, the band plays Las Mañanitas to St. Ursula at the temple. Afterwards they walk to the house where Christ was veiled and sing Las Mañanitas for a second time.

During the day, at the church courtyard, native Aztec dances are performed, along chinelos, santiagos and arrieros; mariachis and bands sing to their patron saint. Then, at night, they perform the traditional burning of firework structures.

This event is held every year on 21 October, the feast of Saint Ursula, in Santa Úrsula, Coyoacán.

What happens. The novena of masses in the nine days before, the principal mass on 21 October, and the procession carrying the image of the saint through the streets of the pueblo, with a band and dance groups. The atrium is dressed with flowers and paper cut-outs; outside, a fair with food stalls, rides and games runs for several days, and fireworks close the main night.

Where it sits in the city. Santa Úrsula Coapa is an original pueblo of Coyoacán, next to the Estadio Azteca and surrounded by the housing estates built around it from the 1960s. The pueblo's own streets, church and feast predate all of that by centuries.

Practical notes. Metro and Tren Ligero reach Taxqueña and Estadio Azteca, both within reach of the pueblo. The parish publishes the programme a few weeks ahead. Entry is free, the fair runs on cash, and photographs of people should be asked for first.