Sanctorum: Religious Traditions and Special Feast Days

Sanctorum is especially shaped by its religious traditions. El Encuentro connects the town with Cuautlancingo; the Virgen de los Remedios is also part of the community’s festive traditions. The customs differ in timing and how they unfold: El Encuentro includes a procession, while the visit of the Virgen lasts two weeks. These specific traditions give your trip to Sanctorum a distinctive cultural focus.

El Encuentro in La Frontera

El Encuentro began in 1927 in connection with a visit by residents of Cuautlancingo. Since 1927, it has been celebrated on the same date and at the same place: in La Frontera, which is also called Puente Colorado. The location lies on the geographical boundary between Cuautlancingo and Sanctorum. The names La Frontera and Puente Colorado therefore refer to the same festival location.

During El Encuentro, a procession carrying flags and the scepters of the mayordomos passes through some of Sanctorum’s main streets. The mayordomos of Sanctorum offer food and drinks to visitors from Cuautlancingo in their homes. The celebration thus includes both a procession through the town and hospitality in people’s homes. These different customs show how closely El Encuentro is connected to the relationship between Sanctorum and Cuautlancingo.

The date follows the Lenten calendar: El Encuentro is celebrated on the fifth Friday of Lent. This can fall in late March or early April. If you would like to plan your trip around this occasion, you should therefore take the date in the relevant Lenten calendar into account.

Visits of the Virgen de los Remedios

Another religious tradition is the two-week visit of the Virgen de los Remedios. During this period, the image of the Virgin Mary visits the homes of her devotees and stays for a full day in each one. This observance is spread over several days and differs in timing from El Encuentro, which is celebrated on the fifth Friday of Lent.

Before the liturgical feast of the Holy Trinity, the Virgen de los Remedios also visits the community of La Trinidad Sanctorum in the municipality of Cuautlancingo. This location adds another religious connection between Sanctorum and Cuautlancingo. La Preciosa Sangre is also part of the town’s religious identity: the office of La Preciosa Sangre is Sanctorum’s most important religious office.

Festival Cuisine and Route Names

The Feria de la Preciosa Sangre de Cristo features street stalls near the center of Sanctorum. They offer antojitos poblanos and traditional sweets. This is different from El Encuentro, where the mayordomos serve food and drinks in their homes to visitors from Cuautlancingo. Those interested in local cuisine will find different culinary connections to the town’s festival traditions.

The designated route names also include Sanctorum in different combinations. Route M22 is designated with the branch Sanctorum–San Juan Cuautlancingo–Centro; another M22 branch is called Sanctorum Nueva Alemania–San Juan Cuautlancingo–San Miguelito. Route JBS is designated as Sanctorum–Los Pinos–Bosques de Amalucan. The full names help distinguish the respective route designations.

When choosing your holiday rental, you can first consider which cultural occasion is especially important for your trip. El Encuentro follows the fifth Friday of Lent; the visit of the Virgen de los Remedios extends over two weeks. These different dates offer a practical guide for planning your trip to Sanctorum.

For the broader travel overview: Cuautlancingo.