Teotitlan del Valle convite

Another beautiful day in paradise....

The second convite of the week in Teotitlan del Valle, where the village continues to celebrate La Preciosa Sangre de Nuestro Señor Jesucristo.

This is the most important celebratory week of the year and hundreds of girls and women gathered at the church with their canastas to begin the procession, or convite, through the streets of the village.  Look at that setting... glorious.

It is a long walk, maybe four or five kilometers and those baskets are heavy and catch the wind just like the dancers penachos or headdresses. 

The procession stretched a long way down the main street.

And, as always, such a delight and proud moment to see Beatriz Ruiz in all her glory.

And nice to see girls growing up after photographing them in previous years.

All ages turn out for this event which insures that this tradition will just keep going. 

They start so early in life, it becomes a natural part of their lives.  

For this particular week, people return home from all over Mexico and the US to participate.

That is one of the nicest things about Teotitlan del Valle, the importance of traditions which continue without fail,  embraced by all.  And they do it with an openness and joy and above all, respect.

Back for the danza de la pluma today..... It's a tough job, but somebody's gotta do it.