Friday of Sorrows - Viernes de Dolores

Our Lady of Sorrows, Nuestra Señora de los Dolores, is celebrated with processions, masses and altars on the final Friday of Lent, just a week before the Crucifixion of Christ on Viernes Santo. This Feast Day is a prelude to Holy Week, and honors the Mother of Christ in her anguish over the Crucifixion. In Patzcuaro a number of altars were built in homes and in businesses around the three plazas in the Centro to condole with Our Lady of Sorrows. Host households open their doors to share their altars and serve special refreshments to all who visit on the Friday of Sorrows. The altars remain on display during all of Holy Week/Semana Santa.

We walked from place to place to visit the altars, and were offered a sweet beverage made from chia seeds. This liquid represents the tears of the Virgin Mary and its sweetness represents her love and compassion.