Thousands of Guatemalans went this Saturday to the temple of San Simón, the most beloved pagan saint who is celebrated, in parallel to the Catholic saint San Jude every October 28, and to whom economic, health and love miracles are attributed.
“Brother San Simón allowed me to migrate to New York in 2008 and working there I earned enough to build a house for my family”Marcelo Pixtun, 46, who has followed this saint for more than 20 years, told EFE.
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Pixtun traveled from Guatemala City, 65 kilometers west, to the town of San Andrés Itzapa, in the department (province) of Chimaltenango, to celebrate “the birthday” of San Simón, along with thousands of followers who attend annually from all corners of the territory and even from other countries such as El Salvador and Mexico.
The wooden image of the pagan saint, unmistakable for his black hat, bushy mustache, black coat, red tie and cigar in his mouth, rests at the back of the temple, built in his honor in 2011.
Offerings of liquor and tobacco for Saint Simon
“In our towns, liquor is used to heal stomach and other ailments. San Simón has given me health and has allowed me to survive five operations, which is why I toast with it every October.”Paty, a healer who has been a follower of this saint since 1981, told EFE.
The line of followers of San Simón leaves the temple towards the street due to the large crowd and people carry offerings of white liquor, tobacco cigars, flowers and cash.
Cigarette smoke and the sound of the mariachi guitar predominate in the temple, singing songs in honor of the saint and other popular songs by Mexican artists such as Vicente Fernández and Chalino Sánchez.
In the middle of the party, different healers and spiritual guides offer saturation rituals, a dynamic that consists of bathing followers with liquor and lightly hitting them with herbs to release pressure and bad energies.
According to his followers, Saint Simon is not a contradiction of Christianity, since, they claim, “God comes first”but Maximón is a brother who does not judge people and “fulfills lost causes.”
The symbolism of San Simón borders between good and evil, between religiosity and vices, according to tradition, and the festivities in his honor last until November 1, when All Saints’ Day is celebrated.
