Baile de Nuestros Tradiciones

All of last week, the kids from San Mateo were practicing two traditional dances:  "Instrumentos de Labranza" and "Nuestros Tradiciones."  Garbed in traditional Mayan attire, the kids practiced their steps in hopes to give a perfect performance at the language school on February 9th for the school's anniversary party.  With their beautiful costumes, cultural insight, and adorable smiles, the orphanage hopes to start a small performance business at local language schools in order to earn extra money for school supplies, clothes, shoes, classes, etc.

Here's a sneak peak of "Nuestros Tadiciones," a dance that reflects traditional marriage ceremonies in San Mateo.

In the dance, the newlyweds are christened at the same time two youth undergo their First Communion.  The ceremony is typically performed in the home after a traditional Catholic ceremony and is followed by a  lunch or dinner with the family and clergy.

Later, the bride must clean up everything until one or two in the morning while her husband waits for her at home.   While tradition varies from pueblo to pueblo, honeymoons are not common and the size of the celebration is dependent on the value of the "vendition."