Fiesta de San Blas 2027 — Blessing of the Throats in San Miguel de Allende

The feast of Saint Blaise (San Blas), celebrated each February 3, is known throughout the Catholic world for a single, distinctive ritual: the blessing of the throats. In Mexico, where San Blas is widely venerated, the day draws families to church for a devotion rooted in the legend of the fourth-century bishop and martyr who saved a boy choking on a fish bone.

The Blessing of the Throats

The ritual is simple and moving. The priest holds two crossed candles — often blessed just the day before at the feast of Candlemas — against the throat of each person who approaches, and prays: “Through the intercession of Saint Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God preserve you from ailments of the throat and every other evil.” It is a quiet, intimate moment that has comforted the faithful for centuries.

Saint Blaise was a physician before becoming bishop of Sebastea in Armenia, and his reputation as a healer made him a natural patron for ailments of the throat. He is one of the Catorce Santos Auxiliadores (Fourteen Holy Helpers), a group of saints long invoked for protection against illness.

The Celebration in San Miguel

In San Miguel de Allende, the blessing is offered after the day’s Masses at the Parroquia San Miguel Arcángel and in other historic churches across the Centro. Families bring candles to be blessed, and the faithful line up to receive the crossed candles at their throats — a scene of tenderness and continuity that links the modern town to its colonial past.

The feast arrives the day after Día de la Candelaria (February 2), when Mexicans bless candles and share tamales. Together the two days form a small but beloved cycle of winter devotion, bridging the end of the Christmas season and the approach of Lent.

Practical Information

• Date: Wednesday, February 3, 2027 (fixed feast day)
• Location: Parroquia San Miguel Arcángel and historic churches, San Miguel Centro
• Masses: Throughout the day; throat blessing after each Mass — check the parish bulletin
• Admission: Free and open to all
• Dress code: Modest attire recommended; covering shoulders is appreciated inside the church

Whether you seek the blessing yourself or simply wish to witness a centuries-old tradition, the Fiesta de San Blas offers a gentle, authentic window into the devotional life of San Miguel de Allende — and a warm welcome to all who come in good faith.