The Flower of "Las Monjas"

On our cover this month is a stunning Celosia Argentea flower, commonly known as feather cockscombs for their resemblance to roosters' combs. It belongs to the Amaranth family. It grows widespread across tropical Mexico and Central America, northern South America, tropical Africa, the West Indies, South, East and Southeast Asia where it is grows as a native or naturalized wildflower, and is cultivated as a nutritious leafy green vegetable. It is traditional fare in countries of Central and West Africa, and is one of the leading leafy green vegetables in Nigeria, where it is known as ‘soko yokoto', meaning ‘make husbands fat and happy.' The exotic plumes make superb dried flower specimens, retaining their color long after harvest.

This particular flower was photographed at the ex-convent of the order Concepción Las Monjas. This 16th and 17th century Gothic-style national heritage building, located on Calle 63 at the corner of Calle 64, originally took up the whole block. Over the years, pieces have been sold off, but it is still a fascinating place to visit today. Its unique viewing tower, supported partly by the vault of the sanctuary, was constructed in 1633.

This seat of the convent of the Order of the Conception nuns has a lovely courtyard, and its church area boasts a spiral staircase which leads to the choir area above. The 40 or so nuns who lived here were cloistered following their vows, with no direct contact with outsiders. You can get a sense of their daily life when you see the barred-off area where the nuns went to mass, separated from the church crowd by a latticed steel grate and latticed windows. The confessional booths were located in the thickness of the walls.

The convent was closed in 1863, and later evacuated. It was used for various purposes until 1920, when it was designated to parochial services.To this day mass is held on Sundays at 8 am, 10 am, 12 noon, 6 pm, and 7:30 pm. On Mondays and Saturdays it is held at 8 am and 6:30 pm. Tuesdays to Fridays it is held at 8 am and 7:30 pm. On Fridays at 5 pm there is a special mass for people who are ill. Confession is held on Tuesdays to Fridays during mass, and Catechism classes are held on Saturdays.

Since 1994, the former convent also houses the Casa de la Cultura del Mayab, a place where Yucatecan artists are nurtured. As well, the Escuela Superior de Artes de Yucatán offers degrees in theater and dance, as well as the many artistic workshops given by the Cultural Institute of Yucatan for children and adults.