Fiestas Patronales

It is a shame that we don’t share this tradition in the United States, but each town in Nicaragua has a patron saint and therefore a birthday. It just so happens that my town’s fiestas were this October 9th. It is principally a religious holiday, but like anything it turns into an excuse for merchants to come to town, dance parties, and drinking. Well the main event was the confirmation and baptizing of hundreds of people in San Dionisio and the outer communities. I got to be the honorary photographer and here are a few pictures of the family. It was so nice to seem them all dressed up and it is amazing to see how much I really do value them as my family. I would do anything for them and they embraced me as one of the family for the parties and confirmations of my host sister (Lindys) and cousin (Joel).

It was a beautiful day for the fiestas, there was not a cloud in the sky and it looked like we were going to luck out. The day kicked off with an event called Palo Lucio, which means that they stick a 10m pole in the ground and lube it up with oil, fat, and any type of grease they can get their hands on. The goal of the game is to get to the top of the pole and it is a riot to see guys trying their hardest only to slip back down the pole. The other big event was chancho encebolado which again is a pig that has had all it’s hair cut off and is bathed in oil and grease. This led to some drama because after one of the kids finally caught the pig there were arguments that it was unfair because there was less grease and then someone stole the pig. It was a big deal and the police had to get involved. Remember, I am in an agricultural society, pigs are a prized posession here and the winner gets to keep the pig to raise and then eat.

Fiestas in Nicaragua are not just a one day thing. The party continued on for two nights. The first day was the religious event of confirming the kids, but the next night was the dance party at the town hall. I invited several of my Peace Corps friends and we were quite the spectacle. Of course it is a big deal if we grace the party with our presence and even more so if we are seen dancing with the locals. I was shocked how much we were talked about the following day around town. It was funny for a lot of my friends because rumors spread of the professor dancing with certain people and how I dance funny. I didn´t mind, it was a great night and I made the most of it. It was an added plus that Jamie and Karen came early and I got to cook for them.