Every year that I attend the Mardi Gras parade here in Ajijic, I wonder about the strange custom that takes place. Men dressed as women running after young boys and other men and showering them with flour. Their costumes are varied but most include stuffing balloons in their upper garments and something just as big in the back of their lower garments. This morning I finally had a few minutes to sit out on my terrace with my two cups of coffee and read this month’s “Chapala Review” . Judy King, who is a wonderful writer here in Ajijic, covered this very topic, which I am quoting here.
“Ajijic’s old tradition of sayacas is better experienced than explained. The pure joy and mischief with the dancing flour and confetti throwing sayacas (masked men and boys costumed as well-endowed women). Preceding them in the parade is a band of younger boys who taunt the sayacas and then run to avoid being showered with fistfuls of flour. Sayacas wear everything from elegant gowns to tawdry sundresses shaped by a couple of well-placed balloons. Accessorized with make-up, wigs, hats, gloves and handbags, the outfits are zany, but less than stunning.
A group of Ajijic residents resurrected the ancient tradition of the sayacas about 10 years ago. It’s based on an event which is said to have taken place shortly before the arrival of the Spanish, but has been slightly altered in recent times. The old woman is the deranged one. She burst from the hospitalito (the hospice adjoining the old chapel at the plaza) when strangers came into town. Wearing an odd combination of clothing, she’d follow the men, trying to kiss them. When they refused she showered them with the face powder in her purse.”
After going to the Mardi Gras parade on Tuesday I made a video with some of the clips I took. It’s HD size, so unless you have pretty high internet speed, you might want to put it on pause for a minute to let it stream and then you should be able to watch it without having it stall.
Mardi Gras Parade, February 2012
Glad to hear you were spared the yolk!!