Navidad, December 23-25

Christmas celebrations, some with ties to the agricultural planting cycles, particularly the planting of corn. In Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas the Floreros prepare a manger in the cathedral and in the Mayordomo’s house using the harvested bromeliads (see Fiesta de los Flores). Additional beautiful ephemeral artwork is fashioned from the bromeliads on December 8. In El Cerrito, Chiapas a house is constructed where corn is planted, it includes an altar with offerings of seeds and a cross. There is dancing and a fireworks display. In Francisco I. Madero, Chiapas, there is likewise a house constructed for the corn and a procession of women carrying the seeds for planting, (the house is opened on December 24). Offerings of seeds, herbs and candles are made at the altar. A manger is constructed using strings of flowers; bread is baked in human forms, and the little Christ is carried in procession from house to house. In the small and poor town of San Pedro Soteapan, Veracruz, a manger is fashioned completely out of poinsettia flowers. These slides document the procession, dance, construction, food, ephemera, offerings, churches, fireworks displays and other traditions associated with the celebrations in these various villages and towns.

These slides are housed in LSF Container KK.

A descriptive narrative of these slides is found on audiocassette #16 side B, which is housed in LSF Container RR.