Well, this explains so many things: Anthony de Padua is the patron saint of the insane.

Now the Dia de Locos — or Convite de Locos — isn’t so crazy after all.

Well, yes, it is. Crazy, I mean. Very very crazy. In so many delightful ways.

What better way to honor the patron saint of people who have lost their minds than to assemble thousands of people in costumes that suggest they, too, have indeed lost their minds?

That day, the Convite de Locos is on Sunday, June 18. This massive paean to Saint Anthony will launch around 10 a.m. on Salida de Celaya, Stirling Dickinson, and Cordo as the crazies funnel their way onto the Ancha, Zacateros, Canal, Hernandez Macias, Insurgentes and eventually end up at the Plaza Principal in front of the Parroquia San Miguel de Arc Angel.

How many people will be in the parade? It is expected to continue until 2 p.m. Think about that.

We here in Colonia San Antonio have been thinking about it since early June, as every night there has been a pilgrimage to the local church, each night from a different church, temple, or community in San Miguel. Each has been like a miniature Convite de Locos.

The church is of course Parroquia de San Antonio de Padua and the public square in front of it has been filled each night with music, dancing, food, laughter, peeling bells, and fireworks to greet the pilgrims.

Tonight’s pilgrimage started in the upper part of Barrio de Caracol and traveled through Guadiana, 5 de Mayo, Calle de Cardo, the Ancha, Orizaba, and through the colonia before arriving at the church. It seemed to have a little of everything you can expect at the Convite.

I couldn’t stop grinning. It made me feel blessed to live here in Colonia San Antonio. Imagine, a parade every night for two weeks. I mean who doesn’t like a parade?

You’d have to be crazy to not like a parade.

But, then, if you were crazy, you’d have to be in the parade.

Hey, I don’t make the rules. I just live by them.

As you can see in these photos, some of my best friends are crazy.

In the good ways.

Help yourself. Click on a photo to enlarge it.

The end. Which is where you always find our municipal workers keeping the city beautiful.

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