Photo Credit: Al Kudela

Hornitos, once a lively gold town of 12,000 souls now drowses in the foothills, is a minder of when the town was full of gold miners seeking their fortunes.  Every year on November 2 in Hornitos, a candle-lit procession winds its way up a hill to St. Catherine’s Catholic Church and to the cemetery beyond in observance of All Souls' Day.

This year on Sunday, November 2 people will gather again in the Hornitos Plaza.  (Meet in the Plaza at 5:30 p.m., the candle lit procession starts up the hill around 7:00 p.m., the way is lit by luminarias and is quite spectacular).  After all the candles are lit, Reverend Stephen Bulfer of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Mariposa will lead the procession up the hill to the cemetery, with each person carrying a lighted candle. After Fr. Bulfer leads the Blessing of the Cemetery at the grave of early Hornitos resident, Dona Candelaria de Sapien, keeper of the tradition, participants may place candles at her grave, at the graves of family and friends, or at any unlit grave.  Fr. Bulfer will then celebrate the All Souls' Day Mass for the dead at the historic St. Catherine’s Church in the cemetery.

The practice of placing candles at the graves of loved ones on All Souls' Day was brought to Hornitos from Mexico by early miners.  Dona Candelaria de Sapien revived the practice in the early 1900’s.  This procession which numbers up to 450 people has been held every November 2 for over 45 years.  Friends, history buffs and those who wish to honor the memory of early Hornitos settlers are all invited to join in the candlelight procession.  All Souls' Day is also known as Day of the Dead or Dia de Los Muertos.

Light refreshments will be served by the Hornitos Patrons Club at the Golden Stag Hall in Hornitos following the celebration.  

For more information pleases call: 209-966-2522.