Mérida Cathedral celebrates patron saint Cristo de las Ampollas

The Cathedral of Mérida is hosting traditional festivities in honor of the Cristo de las Ampollas, the patron saint of the Archdiocese of Yucatán. The celebrations, which began on September 14, include devotional visits from apostolic groups and will feature a large-scale 'vaquería' dance event on Friday the 25th at 19:30.

The event will include musical support from a jaranera orchestra provided by the Mérida City Council. Following the vaquería, traditional guilds will participate in processions from September 27 until October 17, concluding with a solemn mass and the return of the image to its niche.

The Cristo de las Ampollas is a 17th-century wooden sculpture, a replica of an original piece carved in Querétaro. The image earned its name after surviving a fire in 1634, which left the wood blackened and marked with blister-like patterns. It is recognized as one of the '100 jewels of sacred art of the Yucatán Peninsula'.