Fiesta de la Immaculada Concepcion, December 8-24

A religious celebration and feast called the Conception of Mary arose in the Eastern Church in the seventh century. In the eleventh century it received its current name, the Immaculate Conception. Mary was full of grace and free of sin from the first moment of her existence. In Cardonal, Hidalgo the festivities are marked by decorated carpets made of colored sawdust and other ephemeral materials. In a night procession, the Virgin is feted with confetti. In Santa Maria Zacatepec, Oaxaca the Dance of the Conquest is choreographed with great pageantry and continues over a period of two days. Elaborate costumes and masks are well represented, and the saints are beautifully dressed. In Juquila, Oaxaca, the Virgin of Juquila is venerated. The town of 4,500 receives 450,000 visitors for this festival. Pilgrims arrive via decorated trucks, bicycles, on foot and some on their knees to honor the Virgin. They wear clothes festooned with milagros. Priests bless the crowd and the pedimiento, or altar, that is crowded with examples of what blessings or favors pilgrims have asked for made out of mud and clay available at the site. These slides document musicians, dances, pageantry, costumes, masks, ephemeral decorations, folk art, processions, churches, fireworks construction and displays, and other traditions associated with these various villages and towns.

These slides are housed in LSF Container GG and Container HH.

A descriptive narrative of these slides is found on audiocassette #14 side B, which is housed in LSF Container RR.