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| Festival San Sebastian in Chichicastenango 1/19/03
photos by Lois and Don Porter 1/23/2003 |
San Sebastian
Unbeknownst to us beforehand, Sunday, January 19th is San Sebastian’s
Day. We happened to arrive at the San Tomás Church in Chichicastenango
two minutes before the Brotherhood (Cofradía) began the procession carrying
the saints out of the church into the street in celebration of this day. We
hope that these photos succeed in conveying the excitement, noise (very loud
rockets were being launched from iron cylinders on the church steps, then exploding
50 feet in the air), smells (there were many, many beautiful flowers as well
as massive smoke from copal incense), music (a marimba was carried by two men
while three other men played it; plus there were flutes, drums, and a chirimia)
and pageantry of this event. The important men and women are wearing their
finest ceremonial dress and often carrying candles or staffs with silver sun
badges on top. Everyone had a great time, especially us (behind the cameras).
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