| Lourdes' Hometown, Page 5: The Fiesta Rituals for Santo Nino January 14th, 2004 |
This village is named Sto. Nino [baby Jesus manifesting as King of the World,
a medieval-origin Catholic cult-figure], and the people there are very
devoted to him. Every year on January the 14th and 15th they hold their
village fiesta in his honor. Things get going on the first morning when these
little figures of him and St. Roche (patron of many things, including healing
and protection of animals & fishermen) are taken out of the Village Chapel
and placed in this little shrine on a model boat, while prayers are said. It is
then paraded 2 miles down to the beach, with a big crowd of people singing
and dancing. When everyone has gathered on the beach by the fishing
boats, the shrine is taken out to the biggest boat (below) and placed on
board, in the center of the deck. Two or three dozen people get on with it.
a medieval-origin Catholic cult-figure], and the people there are very
devoted to him. Every year on January the 14th and 15th they hold their
village fiesta in his honor. Things get going on the first morning when these
little figures of him and St. Roche (patron of many things, including healing
and protection of animals & fishermen) are taken out of the Village Chapel
and placed in this little shrine on a model boat, while prayers are said. It is
then paraded 2 miles down to the beach, with a big crowd of people singing
and dancing. When everyone has gathered on the beach by the fishing
boats, the shrine is taken out to the biggest boat (below) and placed on
board, in the center of the deck. Two or three dozen people get on with it.
| The ship anchors back at the beach, the shrine is floated around it in a circle, and then it's carried up onto the beach for a picnic-feast and yet more prayers and dancing. |
| The shrine is paraded back up to the village, where it visits various houses to collect donations and bestow blessings; and, yes, there's more prayers, music and dancing! |
| Mom dancing in front of our house's own Catholic shrine. |
| The party continues, inside our house... dancing off the BBQ-pork feast and coconut wine. |
| And at night, of course the party goes ON, now in the public square with amplified disco-rap music and everyone of all ages rollickin' along. |
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The ship parades back & forth along the coast, while on
board some chant and pray while others dance to simple
guitar-music, shouting "Viva Santo Nino! Viva!", led by
Lou's mother (in yellow). Other boats race alongside; the
men compete in dousing each other with sea-water.
board some chant and pray while others dance to simple
guitar-music, shouting "Viva Santo Nino! Viva!", led by
Lou's mother (in yellow). Other boats race alongside; the
men compete in dousing each other with sea-water.
