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“Santa Rita Fair”

The origin of celebrations of what now is called the “Santa Rita” fair goes back to the customs of the New Spain to commemorate the “Day of the Patron”, were each town had the tradition of assigning the name of a saint. All around Mexico this type of fairs are characterized because depending on the town is how the fair is called and on the saint is dedicated to; for example in Aguascalientes their fair is called the “San Marcos” fair, in Pachuca the fair is known as the “San Francisco” fair and so on. In Chihuahua, the so-called "fairs" are organized each May, which have changed place according to social requirements; the number of people, businesses and attractions. One of the most traditional fairs in the city of Chihuahua, Chihuahua is the “Santa Rita” fair, which takes place during the second half of may.

It all started in 1730, the story counts that Doña Nicolasa de Orio y Zubiate got seriously sick and because of that her last will (that finally it wasn’t because she survived) was the construction of a Temple in her estate to worship Santa Rita de Casia. Her will was accomplished and this chapel was done in 1731 and located by the 1st of May street in the Santa Rita colony. Even-though originally this chapel was only designated for workers of the estate and close friends, a tradition was born, each 22 of may (liturgical festivity of Santa Rita) faithful friends came from everywhere, so the owners of the estate allowed access, this celebration evolved and became popular as time passed, so this reunion turned into a pilgrimage form the church to the Lerdo Park where it was cerebrated with food and music, hence to the origin of the Santa Rita fair. The first name that this celebration had was “San Francisco de Cuellar”, which was celebrated in the San Francisco temple, which still remains located next to the Plaza del Ángel. With the growth of the population, the celebration changed to the name of “Villa de San Felipe el Real de Chihuahua”, till it came to the name of “Santa Rita”.

The “Santa Rita” name comes from Santa Rita de Casia an Italian nun and one of the most popular saints of the Catholic church. When she was a child, Rita wanted to be a nun, but because of their parents will, she married at the age of 12 with an extremely cruel tempered man. She was married for 18 years until her husband was murdered. She was left with her two children and was admitted in the “Agustino de Cascia” convent were she developed her profession. As a religious person Rita was an example for everyone and is well known for the efficiency of her prayers. She is known as the “Saint of the impossible” for the multiple miracles attributed to her around the world.

In 1940, the festival was moved to the “Deportiva”,together with the exhibition of the “ Union Ganadera” to be held the first half of may. Later it was located in the land that now occupies the “Heroes de Reforma” state building. As the flow of visitors increased, the facilities were moved to the land on which the”Hospital General” is currently located, the “Pensiones Civil del Estado”, the Pacheco Avenue and the C4 offices in the Aldama highway. Today the “Santa Rita” fair occupies an area close to the defunct Avalos smelter, with larger facilities.

Among the most attractive activities is its large livestock exhibition, made up of the best exhibitors in the region and where you can see a wide variety of small sectors of sheep, pig, poultry, horses, goats, among others. In addition, this traditional festival offers an impressive circuit of mechanical games, trade pavilion and expo sale of handicrafts, where you can taste Mexican appetizers and the typical dishes that emerge from the Chihuahuas cuisine. The music scene is also of great impact among the visitors of the Santa Rita Fair, year after year it is customary to integrate an artistic billboard with the best performers of the moment, who parade through its stages of the famous Palenque and Teatro del Pueblo. Also the SantaRita fair offers fun for the whole family like the mechanical games and shows. This fair is integrated by an area full of pubs where is common to bar hop and from teenagers to adults come here to have a good time with friends.

The Santa Rita Fair offers a big quantity of attractions, the most recent event of the fair in 2018 counted with 60 mechanical games which 40 of them where free. The entrance fee was 50 pesos. From May 17 to June 3 the Chihuahuas citizens enjoyed the Horse Fair, the commercial pavilion, rodeo, bar hopping, that had 20 establishments, Teatro del Pueblo and many other attractions. That year, the parking lot became a playground for mechanical games, giving space to the families to enjoy the attractions in complete safety.

Since 2013, the celebration was joined to another traditional cattle fair and in 2017 to a new equine fair, therefore the Chihuahua community refers to the Fair of Santa Rita as "the fairs" where every year, new attractions and businesses arrive.