Fiestas de la Vida

Devotion and Ritual in Mexican Folk Art

Carnival

Translated from the Latin "carne vale" or "farewell to flesh," Carnival in Mexico is the final opportunity to revel in bacchanalian abandon before the fasting, introspection and penitence of Lent. Although its origins are religious, Carnival has evolved into a celebration which is more secular than sacred; it is a time for dancing, masking and merrymaking. Generally celebrated on the three days and nights preceding Ash Wednesday, Carnival was introduced in the sixteenth century during the Spaniards' attempts to evangelize the indigenous people. Because it happened to coincide with an important time in the pre-Hispanic ceremonial cycle, it was embraced by the people. February, the month dedicated to the Tlaloques, or rain gods, marked the beginning of the Aztec calendar and the commencement of the agricultural cycle. It is no accident, then, that many Carnival dances are associated with requests for rain and practices relating to the fertility of the earth. The dance of the Dandies (La Danza de los Catrines) in Tlaxcala and regional versions of The Dance of the Tigre, where animal traditionally associated with agriculture and the harvest is the focus, are examples.

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