Carnival of Huejotzingo

Carnival of Huejotzingo is one of Mexico’s carnivals, which takes place in the Huejotzingo municipality in the state of Puebla.

It is noted for its unique traditions which center on the reenactment of stories related to the municipality’s history as well as the use of tons of gunpowder used in handcarved muskets in mock battles and other events. The carnival involves the participation of 12,000 residents in costume, most of which are dressed in outfits related to elements of the armies that fought in the Battle of Puebla. Mock battles related to this event are reenacted as well as a Romeo and Juliet story and the first Catholic wedding and baptism in Mexico.

The Carnival of Huejotzingo is the only carnival of its kind and one of the most important in Mexico. Festivities start in the morning of the Saturday before Ash Wednesday and end in the evening of Shrove Tuesday, with the most important days being Monday and Tuesday. About 12,000 people of the municipality participate in costume, most which carry hand carved muskets, with which gunpowder is set off.

The activities of this carnival focus on a number of reenactments, although other elements such as “huehue” (meaning old person) dancers also exists. Festivities are daytime, beginning in the morning, with a break for a main meal in the mid afternoon and then continuing until nightfall. There are pre Hispanic elements to this carnival, including the mock battles which have been compared to the “flower wars” of the Aztecs. Carnival coincides with the time that the pre Hispanic inhabitants of Huejotzingo petitioned the gods for fertility of the lands and for abundant rainfall.

The carnival is led by a “General en Jefe de las Fuerzas o Ejercicios Carnavalesco” who is in charge of leading all four days of festivities. S/he is selected at a meeting which occurs just after the end of the current year’s carnival. Participants can prepare for up to six months in advance. The garments are still locally made, if not by the participants, then by local craftspeople. Children are also part of the festivities, with their own costumes and small muskets.

The carnival attracts between 32,000 and 35,000 spectators from both Mexico and abroad, bringing about ten million pesos to the municipality. The carnival is also the beginning of the Tianguis Turístico (Tourism Market) .

...
Wikipedia