Photographer Lander Rodriguez captures the beauty and spirit of Semana Santa (Holy Week) in San Miguel de Allende.

Preparations have begun. Statues are being removed from their nichos, angels are coming out of storerooms, flowers are arriving by the truckloads… it’s time for Semana Santa.

Ignacio Allende’s birthday is January 21st. Allende is a national hero of Mexico and many places and streets including San Miguel de Allende were named for him.

On January 6th Rosca de Reyes is a sweet bread traditionally served during family gatherings.

In the year 1531, ten years after the arrival of the Spanish Conquistadores to Mexico, a miraculous event occurred at the Hill of Tepeyac, the worship site of the Aztec Goddess Tonantzin, when a Noble Woman from the heavens appeared to the Aztec Juan Diego.