Saturday, March 08, 2008

Beginning of Easter Season

I bet you think the "Easter Season" starts with Palm Sunday and ends on Easter - it used to for me. BUT, not in Mexico..........it began here on Thursday night when the conchero dancers arrived with their shells around their ankles, their drums and spears in hand and their most fabulous headdresses. I LOVE this time of year!
While going through my photo boxes last week, half of one box is Indian ceremonies. I LOVE the indigenous dress and ceremonies of Mexico........I confess these two photos were taken last year because I said "Self, no more!" BUT I have to confess I took a few photos yesterday and will share them next week. There were many more Aztec dance groups this year and their costumes were spectacular. If I only knew where they got those feathers, I think I would make a trip to that village. They are breathtaking. The dancing, as I said, started Thursday evening and restarted, I presume at 6:45 AM yesterday when the booms of fireworks knocked us all out of bed (just kidding, but it DOES wake you up). I could hear the drums up here at my house even though I'm a 10 minute walk! The drum beats made me hurriedly dress and head to see and hear all the Indians. I was NOT disappointed.
I often wonder how they possibly find time for all of the practice for these ceremonies. I have a female friend who is an Aztec dancer. They practice three times a week for several hours each time. She works at a bank nine hours a day and is a massage therapist for several hours each evening - six days a week. But her dedication to the dance of the Aztecs is very very important to her. She tells me they MUST preserve their heritage! Thankfully............
Isn't this headdress beautiful? Often the back of their headdresses will have a painting of something, the Virgen or a special ancestor or whatever. Click on this photo for an enlarged view of this magnificent headdress.
The drums went on til late last evening............and then the church bells started. Magnifico - drums and church bells! So Mexico..............

5 comments:

picklesandroses.blogspot.com said...

Beautiful feathers...what a wonderful time of year. One of these days I am going to make it to SM for Easter.

Gypsy Girl said...

Great photos!! We will be arriving on Tuesday. Can't wait to get there.
Is there some kind of schedule for the easter festivities or do we just follow the sounds and the crowds??
Can't wait to meet you.
GG

Babs said...

Hi Gypsy Girl - You can reach me at babsofsanmiguel@yahoo.com or 1528375. Look forward to meeting you.
Buy an Atencion when you get here and look at these two blogs for all the EAster info......www.zocalodemexicanfolkart.blogspot.com
AND www.experience-san-miguel-de-alende.com/san-miguel-de-allende-blog.html
The home altars of Viernes de Delores are this coming Friday, as well as the Primavera Parade of the kindergarteners, I think. THAT parade is the most adorable of all the parades all year. It is supposed to be on the Friday before the spring equinox.YOu DO NOT want to miss it..........

Babs said...

Oops, that last blog is www.experience-san-migiuel-de-allende.com/san-miguel-de-allende-blog.html It is amazingly complete!

Gypsy Girl said...

WOW!! I just had a chance to check out the 2 sites you mention. They are chock full of good info. Thanks so much!!
See you soon
GG