Celebrating Carnaval in Tepoztlán!

Carnaval was celebrated for the first time in Tepoztlán in 1862. It is celebrated at the same time as Carnival around the world. It is one of the most famous carnivals in the state of Morelos and is certainly the biggest party of the year for the village! And it goes for 5 days! School is even cancelled for 3 days in honor of the occasion! It begins four days before Ash Wednesday which is the first day of lent, and involves fasting and abstinence for people with Catholic traditions. So, if you haven't been able to tell already, just about all of the fiestas celebrated here have religious significance.

A scene of our main street before the Carnaval was really crowded.

People gather from near and far and the entire downtown area is completely transformed with food stands, rides, and games.

Great view of the mountains behind this ride.

And this ride with a view of the main church in the background.

Our friends Aurora and José on a roller coaster.

And another ride.

What's a big festival without games and prizes?

                                               Short video of Kimberly on a "toro" (bull)! 


And here are samples of the food!

This is traditional snack food that you see at all of the fiestas here.

A closeup of the platanos machos that are fried and yummy!

Elote is a popular snack here. It is usually smothered with mayonnaise, limón, queso (cheese) and chile powder.

Here it the elote ready to eat!

And of course there's pizza!

Flan and gelatina are popular treats in the village. In fact, a man regular comes close to our house and yells "fffflllllaaaan" as he walks with a glass container on his shoulder similar to the one in this photo.

And cotton candy!

Here's cake and fruit. Might not be quite as fun for the people standing and selling all day, from the looks on their faces...

And a special sweet bread for Carnaval!

 
 A short video of the zocolo (central square) of the village during Carnaval. You'll see food stands and games in action.

There are also souvenirs, clothing, and all kinds of accessories sold in the downtown area of the village during Carnaval.

Here are dried guards that are used as water bottles. It was nice to see traditional items being sold.

And a man with some real creativity trying to earn a buck.

And balloons!

And some other events at the festival:

                                         Here's a short video of  a teenage boy doing some fabulous breakdancing.

                                         And a short video of a group of guys making some great music!


To be expected, security measures were tighter during the time of Carnaval with all the crowds.

The police, who people don't seem to trust here.

And some of the faces at the festival that I captured...

Brightly colored wigs and long eyelashes seemed to be all the rage!

And a great mask!

Another real character!

And the sweetest looking clown I think I've ever seen.

The traditional "Hop of the Chinelo" is an important part of the Carnaval festivities.  Revellers dress in elaborate costumes that apparently have Arab ancestry because the clothing is inspired by the robes of the Arabs. The hats are the most elaborate part of the costume. They are hand-embroidered with sequins and beads with images of Aztecs, flowers, or animals that represent neighborhoods of Tepoztlan. In addition, plastic beads are glued to each other and hang around the hat. The top of the hat is adorned with ostrich feathers. 

The masks, robes, and gloves are important parts of the costume too.

And here I am with a couple of guys dressed for the occasion.

The Chinelos are so well known here in Tepoztlán that you will see art on the walls of the men in these traditional costumes. This wood carving hangs on one of the walls of an ice cream shop in the village year-round.

In addition to the costumes, many people dance wildly to live brass band music. The dance simulates a pilgrimage where corn and other commodities were carried on the back and the only thing that moved were the feet and hips. The hypnotic dance "El Brinco del Chinelo" now travels down through the generations - every Tepozteco is familiar with its mesmeric skip and hop.

                                           A couple of short videos of men doing the traditional dance.

The Chinelos dance in groups by neighborhoods. Imagine wall to wall people doing the same hop and skip dance! At first the only ones who dance are those who wear the traditional costumes, but gradually people will be introduced into the jump, to create an atmosphere full of energy and enthusiasm. The "Brinco del Chinelo" dance starts in the afternoon and goes steadily into the night everyday of the Carnaval. And it's crowded the entire time! 

Here's the main square where the dance takes place. Hard to imagine that it's generally the location of the central market.

                                               And a short video of the "El Brinco del Chinelo" dance.


The Saturday of the Carnaval is the day that the children have their own "Brinco del Chinelo" dance in the street because the actual dance would be pretty intimidating (and dangerous!) for them to be a part of (unless they're being held close by an adult).

Here's a child holding on tight to his papa.

And another child in costume.

We noticed the influence of American Capitalism. Snow White on the robe?

And Donald Duck on the hat?

Here are our friends Berta and Miguel who were so proud of their grandson dressed in his costume.

Hundreds of people gather to do the dance in the area which generally holds the central market, but is completely dismantled for the Carnaval. You can imagine how much work that entails!

In addition to the dancing, the brass music and the banners create a real celebratory atmosphere. And did I mention the rocket fireworks? What's a Mexican party without the ongoing blasts?

Brian and Lea aren't so into the crowds so their time spent at the Carnival was limited. I spent some time with friends of ours who have lived in the village their entire lives. I could tell that they felt pleased and honored to share their village with me for their biggest party of the year!

Here I am with Berta. We had a great time doing the "Brinco del Chinelo" dance together.

And Miguel, Berta and I. What a party it was!