San Agustín-ish

August 28th is Tucson’s Saint Day , San Agustín. Since the designation of the saint to our community by the Catholic Church under Spain, the day has been celebrated by the community. At one time it was one of the largest and most significant events in Tucson’s annual calendar. In the early 20th century, the celebration gradually dwindled and is today a mostly a historical footnote. 

There is something uniquely “Tucsonense” about our saint however…the varied and often confusing spelling of our patron saint. 

Exemplifying the melding of Anglo and Mexican cultures in Tucson, you will often see the following variations: “San Agustín”, “Saint Augustine”, “Saint Agustine”, “San Agustine”, “Saint Agustín” or ,”San Augustine”. All of these are used interchangeably and usually without question.

Few things represent as well, the emergence of a uniquely Tucson culture than our many spellings of our patron saint. Like cheese crisps, peas on fried tacos, calling flautas “chicken tacos”, “cimarronas”, “gangas”, Stravenues, and so many other uniquely Tucson cultural elements, it is a reminder of  our complex and beautiful culture and history.