Photo ABCs

Xico Dancing Clowns

Dancing Clowns, Xico, Veracruz

Dancing Clowns, Xico, Veracruz

Another of the dancing clowns of Xico, following the procession of Maria Magdalena.

Otro payaso danzante de Xico, siguiendo la procesión de María Magdalena.

Dancing Clowns, Xico, Veracruz

As part of religious processions in Veracruz, Mexico, masked, dancing clowns follow, playing castanets and making lots of noise.

I have not been able to find an explanation for this beyond that the Spanish tried methods to make the Catholic religion more palatable to the native cultures. I suspect that there is more to it than this.

In the following few days I'll post photos of some of the dancing clowns.

Con procesiones religiosas en Veracruz, payasos danzantes con mascaras siguen, tocando castañuelas y haciendo mucho ruido. No puedo encontrar una razón buena, mas que los españoles quizieron hacer más agreable su religión a los nativos. Para mi, creo que hay más de esto tradición.

Xico, Veracruz

Veracruz, Mexico, is a land of rivers and waterfalls. Here is one near Xico. I would estimate that it is about 35 feet (ten meters) tall.

Pase Ud.

The same bar as in the post of two days ago.

Pase Ud. means "Come on in."

Xico, Veracruz

 

Xico, Veracruz

A bullfight-themed bar in Xico, Veracruz.

Torito

Many, if not most areas in Mexico have traditional local liquors that are produced on a small scale in the community.

For instance, in Comala, Colima, the local liquor is called ponche, and is produced and sold in dozens of small shops throughout the town.

In Xico, Veracruz, the town liquor is called torito (like the word for a small bull). It comes in many flavors, the most popular being made from a berry (mora) or a mixture of green plants and herbs which they call verde. Other popular flavors are derived from peanuts or other nuts.

Here is a vendor of torito selling bottles from the window of her home, with a banner of Maria Magdalena, Xico's patron saint, looking down.

Xico, Veracruz

A stray dog, in the streets of Xico, Veracruz, Mexico, in front of a veterinary clinic. (click to enlarge)