Carnivale

Armando and I went to the Carnivale, in Huejotzingo, on Sunday to witness the mayhem. The celebration was an endless parade with elaborate costumes, many of which resembled French soldiers as a form of commemorating the defeat of the french in the battle of Puebla in 1862. The same commemoration as Cinco de Mayo. However, they lost the war and ended up with a Hapsburg Austrian, Maximilian, as a ruler for a brief time. Mexico got good beer and the oom-pah beat, and then executed him after three years.











I am unclear why this guy has an alligator on his back but i saw alligators, skunks, raccoons, squirrels, a bobcat - you name it but no stuffed cats or dogs. The overall celebration was deafening because everyone was carrying muskets and continually shooting off charges. Armando and i bought earplugs in pretty short order - i can't believe everyone in Mexico is not deaf.
The combination of muskets, generalized drunkeness, children everywhere and horses makes for one hell of a party but a little dangerous - and yes that is an ambulance with horse escort. But a good time was had by all.
The food was excellent with a great variety, and eventually we had to retire a bit from the noise to eat. I had some tasty sheep's blood with tortillas and salsa - talk about power food! By about 3pm in the afternoon the parade was wrapping up and Armando suggested leaving noting the increasing drunkenness and continued muskets going off everywhere . . . as in everywhere. If the mexican guy says time to go, well, i am not arguing, and we hopped a bus back to Cholula.
While i am not Catholic, i am familiar with Catholicism and have always admired the ritual and commitment to the sanctity of life. But Latin Catholicism can really turn religious holidays into a party. Today is Ash Wednesday, besides the smudged foreheads, it is huge market day that encompasses blocks and the main plaza is essentially a fair with abundant food and diversions for children.