Belated post -- Saraguro Easter celebration

I just realized that I never shared these pictures of the Saraguro Easter celebration (better late than never).  About an hour before mass on Easter Sunday we heard music up at the church, and wandered up there to see what was happening.  We found many of the Saraguro people in town in front of the church, dancing and laughing, and doing a sort of procession.

People in traditional Saraguro dress, standing on the steps of the church

It is actually much more expensive to buy traditional Saraguro clothing than to wear normal everyday clothig, so most crowds are a mixture of people in traditional and everyday clothes 

These two in the straw hats and masks were comical dancers, pulling people out of the crowd and making everyone laugh by doing silly dances with them 

The unsuspecting gringos were prime targets 

The comical dancers were both men, but one was dressed as a man and one as a woman.  They were both wearing masks

This man's shawl reads "Jesus Resucitó", or "Jesus is risen"

Incense burner 

This tower must have been erected the night before, out of two large fallen (and cleaned) trees

This little girl was selected to be the angel, who sits on the platform that is hanging from the tower

She was hoisted up, and she dropped candy from a basket for all the kids to pick up.  There was also a statue of Mary with a purple veil, to symbolize her mourning.  She "angel" swooped down multiple times and finally pulled the veil from Mary's face, symbolizing Mary realizing that Jesus had risen

Saraguro men traditionally wear a black felt hat, and their hair in one braid down the back 

Traditional drum and fiddle music for the dancers -- this drummer is married to the fiddler's daughter 

Formal traditional dress, with the shawls and wool hats (our kids call these "cow hats" because of the black and white pattern on the under side of the hat)

This was also a day of many baptisms, and soon lots of kids started showing up in their best finery. The Catholic sacraments -- like baptisms, first communion, and confirmation -- are really big days for families.  People spend time and money on making their children look their absolute best, much like a wedding day would be in American culture.  There are not many occasions when a kid is really special for a day, so in this culture these events are really emphasized and treasured.

A little girl with a beautiful dress and hairstyle 

Emmett and Annalise's schoolmate, Maria, on her big day

Maria's brothers, two of whom (Elias and Isak) are in school with our kids

Everyone then went into the church, which was packed foe the Easter mass.  It's fun to see the juxtaposition of the pre-Christian and Christian traditions.  Just like we in the U.S. mix the pagan "new life" symbols of bunnies and chicks with Easter, the Saraguro have their own way of maintaining their traditions and mixing them with their ongoing Catholic faith.  It feels like a privilege for us to be welcomed as a part of their celebrations.