Fiesta for the Precious Blood of Christ in Teotitlan Del Valle, Oaxaca Photo Gallery by Ann Murdy at pbase.com

Fiesta for the Precious Blood of Christ in Teotitlan Del Valle, Oaxaca

During the first week of July the Zapotec village of Teotitlán del Valle, Oaxaca, Mexico celebrates the Precious Blood of Christ fiesta. This year El Grupo Promesa 2010-2012 danced for the first time. This group is made up of thirty-seven participants. This is most likely the first time in nearly forty years that the dance has been focused on the conquest of Cortez over Moctezuma. This group made their first appearance on July 5th when they participated in the convite and calenda. The convite was made up of nearly three hundred women carrying baskets with images of the saints on their heads.
The day of the actual fiesta took place on July 7th. Once again all of the activities were repeated with the octava on July 9th. An unusual amount of rain fell this year, however the fiesta went on. A castillo (firework tower) along with toros (bulls) were part of the festivities on Tuesday and Saturday evening. Overall, despite the rain, the fiesta was a true testimonial of the faith and devotion of this Zapotec village.

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Little girl with canasta	Back of girl with canasta	Carrying canasta	Carrying canasta in convite
Carrying canasta to plaza	Little girl	Braids with ribbons	Convite on Friday
Little girl in convite	Las Mujeres	Girl posing with canasta	Convite leaving the church
The gathering	Little girl	The Convite	Little girl in convite
Girl in convite	Waiting for procession to start	Girl photographing canastas	Women in convite on Friday
Friday convite	Canastas for convite	Storm coming in	Girl with yellow hair ribbons
Girl Carrying Canasta	More canastas	Young girl in convite	Canastas
Detail of canasta	Procession of women	Girl with Canasta	Canasta detail
Little boy with globo	Little boys in calenda	Holding hands in calenda	Little boy in calenda
Children in calenda	Carrying globo in calenda	Little boy with toro	Three boys
Carlos Antonio Gutíerrez Mendoza as Cortés	Álvaro Vázquez Lazo as Pedro de Alvarado	Cortez and the danzantes	Soldier in front of church
Soldadito	Cortez and his soldiers	Soldadito with flag	Cortez and his sargent
Cortez on the march	Soldier with banner	Los Soldaditos	Pedro Alvarado and Subhalterno
Lorenzo Sánchez Martínez as Moctezuma	Gabino Ruiz Bazán - 2nd Teotil	Cándido Vicente Vásquez - 1st Teotil	Armando Sosa Sánchez - 6th Vasallo
Demetrio Salvadoe González Ramíerez - 1st Vasallo	Ramón Martínez Gútierrez - 2nd Vasallo	Margarito Sosa Vicénte - 3rd Vasallo	Alfredo Lorenzo Mendoza - 4th Rey
Jesus and the Subhalterno	Constantino Hernández Alavés - 3rd Rey	Rodrigo López Martinez - 1st Rey	Constantino Méndez Zarate - 2nd Capitan
Misael Lorenzo Santiago - 1st Capitan	Danzante in procession	Leonel Mendoza Bautista - 2nd Rey	Tomás the 7th Vasallo
Subhalterno in procession	Preciosa Sangre on back of dancer	Danzantes leaving church	Subhalterno blowing kisses
Jesus adjusting panacho	Tomás in morning procession	Adjusting panacho	Back of the danzantes
Waiting for procession	Prayer	Praying to the Preciosa Sangre de Cristo	Candle inside church
La Preciosa Sangre de Cristo	Jesus Ranferi with candle	Afternoon procession	Tomás with candle
Dona Marina & La Malinche	Procession with candles	Moctezuma & Cortez	Carrying anda
Morning procession	1st Teotil with candle	Morning procession	The convite on Monday
La Malinche	Leticia Martínez González as Dońa Marina	Rosa Angélica Hernández Méndez as La Malinche	Dońa Marina
La Malinche, Moctezuma & Dońa Marina	Dońa Marina on her chair	Dońa Marina, Moctezuma & La Malinche	Subhalterno holding Moctezuma's panacho
Subhalterno & the Danzantes	Putting up the flag for fiesta	Morning procession	Dancing for La Preciosa Sangre de Cristo
Seńor Mendoza with lilies	The band	Member of church committee	Seńor Mendoza with canasta
Danzantes in the air	Flying for the fiesta	Moctezuma in the air	Up and away
Danzante	2nd Teotil dancing	Bending down	Moctezuma smiling
Dancing for the fiesta	Tomás and Valentín	Dancing away	Los Danzantes
La Danza	Danzante flying	La Malinche & Dońa Marina dancing	Constantino - 3rd Rey
Dancing on Sunday	Moving forward	Moctezuma in the air	Moctezuma and the danzantes
Up, up and away	Tomás dancing	Subhalterno with Danzantes	Ramon - 2nd Vasallo
Moctezuma dancing	Misael - 1st Capitan	First Teotil	2nd Teotil
Danzante in the air	Moctezuma	Moving around corner	Movement of danzantes
Montezuma dancing	Subhalterno in yellow	Subhalterno supporting Cortez	Panachos inside the church
La Malinche & the Danzantes	Back of Danzantes	Last day of the fiesta	Moctezuma kneeling
Moctezuma adjusting panacho	Sunday afternoon	Moctezuma & the soldiers	La Danza on Sunday
Movement around Moctezuma	Detail of panacho	La Danza	La Malinche dancing
Soldier	Cortez pursuing Moctezuma	Back of Danzante	Soldiers striking palmas
Cortez on the march	In thought	Soldier with rifle	Soldiers and Danzantes
Side by Side	Movement of color	Moving forward	Danzantes
Soliders striking palmas of danzantes	Movement along the line	Church committee in calenda	Detail of Moctezuma's palma
Girls in convite	Canastas with figures	The Dance	Subhalterno down for the count
Spinning red wheels	Castillo	Toro	Spinning

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comment |

Guest		25-Sep-2011 18:48
JESUS RANRERI TE SIGO AMANDO SOY TU BELLA

SALVADOR RUANO		03-Nov-2010 01:15
HERMOSAS FOTOGRAFIAS, TU TECNICA ES PERFECTA, DEJAME SABER QUE CAMARAS Y LENTES UTILIZAS, POR FAVOR. BIG VOTE.

Guest		17-Aug-2010 03:41
Ann, you surely captured the color and festivity with your photos. As always, the portraits of the people are exceptional. Sara

Guest		17-Aug-2010 03:33
Thank you for sharing your marvellous photos with me! Seeing them was almost as good as being there ... they are so full of color, life, and movement. Also, glad you got home safely! Georgianna

marga shubart		26-Jul-2010 00:27
Ann -as usual your photos are great!!! The danza de la pluma guys look much better than my first impression of them when i was with you! You really have some wonderful action shots - and the fireworks also are great, although you felt they wouldn't be. I especially like the shot of you with the clown! It was wonderful to spent time with you, and inspite of all the rain we experienced, I know you feel it was all worth it!! - It was!!

Guest		24-Jul-2010 17:37
The Fiesta was obviously worth your time, as the photos are beautiful. I'm giving up travel and subscribing to your website... Thanks for sharing, Ann. Chip

Barbara Mauldin		24-Jul-2010 14:49
Your photographs are fabulous as usual. You've really captured the beautiful colors and mood.

William Barletta		24-Jul-2010 11:57
I loved Oaxaca when I visited. You ~Vhave shown the essence of this magical place.... its people. ~V~

Patricia Sigala		23-Jul-2010 04:32
Indeed so colorful a fiesta and full of joy . . . . Ann your images transport us to the moment! Good work, we missed you at IFAM, but you obviously made a good choice to document this celebration! Peace & Love

Guest		22-Jul-2010 01:31
What a beautiful holiday! Thank you bobbie

joseantonio		21-Jul-2010 18:43
Beautiful and colorful pictures

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