
How can we not talk about Hermes Arroyo when we talk about mojigangas? For more than 35 years, Hermes Arroyo is the father and creator of these beautiful work art in San Miguel de Allende.
With the help of his imagination, Hermes creates these gigantic cardboard dolls. He can create wedding couples, catrinas and historical figures.
If it is still not clear to you what is a mojiganga, we can define it as a puppet, a marionette or a giant sculpture. The head and bust are made of “papel mache” and then set on a structure that supports the head and bust. These can measure from 2 meters to 6 meters!!
Among their traditional characteristics, the mojigangas are usually extravagant characters, with marked features, stocky or voluptuous bodies, accessories, colors, fabric, they can be from female representations with many flowers and long eyelashes, with a very flirtatious touch, as well as male figures with details funny and a highlight details, mustache and
some even with a hat. And its weights around 66 pounds.
Mojigangas wears dresses covering the structure with a window at the level of the eyes of the person who is inside, this way they can dance and move more safely. This dancer gets inside the structure with braces on to support the weight and then the dancer’s legs become the legs of the mojiganga.
These mojigangas became a traditional celebration in all San Miguel festivals, parties, religious events and of course in the funniest and traditional weddings in San Miguel de Allende.

For us in Penzi Weddings it is fantastic to see the weeding couple near their custom made mojigangas. If the groom has a beard or the bride has blue eyes… that’s how the mojiganga will look, just like the day of the wedding.
If you get married in San Miguel de Allende you must have a pair of mojigangas at one of your events, callejoneada or wedding parade, your guests will love them, they will take many photos and it will be an unforgettable memory in your special celebration. There is nothing that can compete with the feeling of joy, awe, wonder and sense of imagination that these beautiful creations give us.
Written by Penzi Weddings