Beyond burying our noses in dusty books and squinting to read small print, San Miguel de Allende is a place that is understood by observing its very nature. streetsThe horseshoe shape of the doors and windows, the cobblestone streets, the use of quarries and the analysis of the slabs themselves.
The fascinating thing about studying history is gradually breaking down everything that is deeply rooted in us today and asking ourselves the cause and consequence of each of our actions and how these will affect the future.
This logic is explained with the following exercise. Walk down Calle de Mesones and count the number of inns you can find there. I bet it is a high number, which indicates the flow of movement that there was in it, as it housed numerous travelers from various parts of Mexico who stayed there to move north.
Being a historian came from the family heritage of my grandparents who were an inspiration to study this science with form and although many thought that I would "die of hunger" with the profession, a more erroneous opinion could not have been expressed since beyond being a magical town, San Miguel is a city that I have seen grow with me with an extensive past and much still to discover.
Due to a major fire in the 20th century that consumed the historical archive, my main mission is to reconstruct it by carrying out extensive research work investigating what we can observe today and relying on other archives such as those in Morelia or Spain; that is where history is found.
One of the most impressive features that differentiates San Miguel from any other place in Mexico and the world, besides its aesthetic beauty, is that throughout the year there is a festive calendar based on history and tradition.
Within it we can find both indigenous and Spanish celebrations. In the part of indigenous celebrations we have the festival of the Holy Cross, of the Lord of the Conquest, the patronal festival of the Lord of San Miguel and Day of the Dead; of Spanish origin we find: La Candelaria, La Virgen de la Concepción, Semana Santa and La Virgen de la Covadonga.
It was during the 18th century that San Miguel reached its peak in terms of economic, cultural, artisanal and artistic wealth. This period of great splendor allowed San Miguel to become a national and international reference point for magical places.
Such beauty has made San Miguel a globalized place today, where despite having a lot of tourism and the implementation of new customs, the true identity of San Miguel must not be forgotten and its traditions must be defended in a firm manner, a mission that has become one of my life goals where we must be objective but also analytical.
Be cautious with uncontrolled growth and respect and preserve the native peoples, who are currently in danger of disappearing, so action must be taken to raise awareness of what San Miguel is and why we are considered a heritage of humanity.
Changing the perspective of San Miguel de Allende as a tourist destination and making it seen as a historical and cultural destination that must be respected is one of the greatest missions in life.
Being a historian is a responsibility not only to recreate history but to protect traditions. To draw on the past to predict the future and act accordingly to write a new history; a community history of a promising future if we act together.
Witness with your own eyes one historian's attempt to continue writing the history of San Miguel de Allende and how he thinks we could evolve for the better.
