Marmota!

What is that thing and why are they dancing with it?  It's a marmota!

Something one sees in almost every Oaxacan celebration is the marmota, the globe on a stick that comes in all sizes from small to huge.  I watched them assemble this one just before the last guelaguetza desfile.  Like all things Oaxacan, its assembly is an art.  It slowly goes from individual pieces.

First in the top slot.

Then the bottom slot.

Rinse and repeat. Tie them all together.

I wasn't the only one watching.

Then the outer covering.

And done.... on to the next one.

Dancing, let alone walking, with one of these is an art. 

As in all things here, they start really young.  I, much to the amusement of many people in Tlacolula, tried  to balance this one at last years calenda.

It weighed eighty kilos.  I should have started with the little boys size.  The old guys around made it look easy and as I say, they laughed and laughed and laughed.