Young Girl in White Dress on Dia de Candelaria, Ajijic, MX
Just as I was walking past Ajijic's Paroquia, the doors opened and out spilled the parishoners...but this was no ordinary Sunday service, this was Dia de Candelaria and a special occasion. The babies were swaddled in flowing white gowns, the children in beautiful white dresses and even a few boys in white satin suits. They all gathered together in the town plaza, visiting, under the shade of the trees of the Zocalo.
It was likely a day for Christenings as well as Dia de Candelaria but It was absolutely the perfect opportunity for me to snap a photo for this weeks photo prompt at 52 Photo's of "All Dressed Up"...even if the light was much too brilliant at mid-day for anything but an over exposed shot.
(Dia de Candelaria is a fusion of pre-Hispanic traditions and Catholic beliefs. Celebrated on February 2nd, it falls forty days after Christmas, and is celebrated by Catholics as the "Feast of Purification" or as the "Presentation of Christ at the Temple." According to Jewish law it was customary to bring a baby to the temple after that period of time had passed. So Jesus would have been taken to the temple on February second.
February 2nd also marks the mid-way point between the winter solstice and spring equinox. This may be a vestige of an old Pagan Tradition, since Feb. 2 has long been thought to be a marker or predictor of the weather to come. Remember that in the States Feb. 2 is celebrated as Groundhog Day. Information found here)
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