Fiesta de Corpus Christi, June (early to mid)

A religious celebration. Fiesta de Corpus Christi falls on a moveable date in early to mid June. There are services in all churches for those whose patron saint is named Manuel. Children in traditional costumes bring, fruit, vegetables and often live birds to their parish churches as token offerings. In colonial times this was the day people came to their churches to pay their tithes. In Suchiapa, the jaguars come to town, La Danza de Gigante is performed, and the altar known as Ermita del Santismo is erected especially for this festival. In Tarecuato, Michoacán, the festival is dedicated to itinerant vendors and noted for its use of decorated boxes, a form of folk art. In San Francisco del Mar, Oaxaca, typical country bull dances are performed and the saints are set-up on a beautiful altar. In San Mateo del Mar, Oaxaca, Malinches dance, La Danza de la Serpente is performed, music is made on turtle shells with deer antlers, and an altar is decorated with bowls festooned with balloons, all part of the Convite procession. These slides document musicians, dances, costumes, masks, processions, churches, food, offerings, ephemeral decorations, merry-making, drinking, and other traditions associated with this festival as celebrated in these various towns and villages.

These slides are housed in LSF Container R and Container S.

A descriptive narrative of these slides is found on audiocassette #7 side B, which is housed in LSF Container RR.