JARDÍN BOTÁNICO
San Miguel
de Allende
Guanajuato, México
charco@unisono.net.mx
ACTIVITIES
Along with its primary task focused on the conservation of natural resources, the Botanical Garden also functions as a place for community gatherings for the municipality of Allende. A permanent and diverse program of environmental education, which combines the values and practices of popular wisdom with alternative technologies, is primarily directed toward the municipality’s and region’s school-aged children and youth, who learn about the reasons for and techniques of environmental conservation in the Botanical Garden.
The Charco del Ingenio is the setting of regularly scheduled meetings, courses, workshops, astronomical observations, races, concerts, dances, ceremonies and various festivities that reflect the multicultural society of San Miguel de Allende.
Every month, on the weekend closest to the full moon, the Botanical Garden hosts a temascal, a ritual and curative sweat-lodge ceremony using aromatic herbs and steam. This ceremony takes place in the ruins of a hacienda located within the Garden.
There are three annual activities that are notable for the large number of people who attend:
The Spring Equinox Concert: around March 21, which takes place in the Charco del Ingenio canyon, the walls of which create a naturally sculpted acoustic space (a natural amphitheatre). Each year a different musical group performs.
The Festivities of the Holy Cross (Santa Cruz) of the Charco del Ingenio, which are celebrated during the first two weeks of July in the Botanical Garden and adjacent Landeta Park. Hosted by the rural communities of the municipality of San Miguel, this well-attended event includes a candlelight vigil, raising of the súchil or ritual altar, a procession of the Holy Cross, traditional costumed dances of the rayados (striped dancers), concheros (shell dancers) and locos (the crazies, disguised as women and political caricatures), as well as a public dance and musical bands. Admission free.
Day of the Dead Altar, at the beginning of November.
In addition,
the Botanical Garden opens its doors to the public at night for the observation
of the total eclipse of the moon.
