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INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY — PUBLICATION NO. 2 



niented that the cargiiero did not seem to wish 

 to give even cigarettes. To which Pedro 

 Chavez, our progressive and anti-Church assist- 

 ant, replied sagely that this was because the 

 cabildo had been abolished. 



On the evening of December 24, candles are 

 burned at night before the image in the house 

 of the carguero, and he, his family and rela- 

 tives, and the dancers and their relatives sit up 

 with the image but do not participate in other 

 activities of the viayordomo. The vanances 

 are also present. All are given food by the 

 mnyordomo in the late afternoon before dark. 

 About midnight the image is taken to visit the 

 image of the Child Christ in church and a Mass 

 is held at the expense of the carguero, who also 

 provides special candles for the occasion. The 

 image in the church is put in a reclining posi- 

 tion in a crib where it remains until January 1. 



After the Mass, whch does not end until 

 nearly morning, the men go home, but return 

 at an early hour to the house of the carguero 

 for breakfast. The women remain in the 

 carguero's house, assisting in preparing the 

 meals for the dancers. After breakfast the men 

 either return home or accompany the carguero 

 as he cares for the dancers who now go out to 

 dance in various houses. The dancers perform 

 the days of the 25th, 26th, and 27th. During 

 this time food is provided for them and many 

 people assist in the food preparations. The 

 dancers provide their own costumes for this 

 affair, but the music, a band of wind instru- 

 ments, is hired by the carguero. At the houses 

 where the dancers perform they are given gifts 

 of fruits and things that children would like 

 (because it is a fiesta of the Child Christ) . 



In addition to the negrito and pastorela 

 dances connected with the December 25 events, 

 three other groups of dancers sometimes appear, 

 the melebris. Neither they nor the pastorela 

 are connected with the mayordomia. They are 

 discussed in connection with the dances. 



The expenses of this mayordomia are between 

 $500 and $700. Music is hired for a week (for 

 part of the practice as well as for the dancing) , 

 an expense of about $200. One or two beeves 

 usually are killed and about three fattened 

 pigs. As much as 15 fanegas of maize may 

 be consumed. Quantities of bread are also 

 purchased, and charanda forms a considerable 



item of expense also. A midnight Mass and 

 candles are paid for, as well as the dance 

 instructor. Special foods are also prepared 

 at this time, for example, mole de pcpita de 

 calabaza molida, mole of ground squash seeds, 

 a very rich food prepared only on this occasion 

 (see i-ecipes, p. 53). 



MAYORDOMIA OF SANTA NIEVES 



Santa Nieves, or the Virgin de las Nieves 

 (Virgin of the Snows), was evidently once the 

 Virgin associated with the hospital. The 

 carguero in 1940, as was the case with the 

 carguero of the Child Christ, had taken the post 

 "for pleasure." 



The carguero receives the saint August 5. 

 He takes it to his home and places it in a 

 specially prepared place. On the day of the 

 saint, August 5, he is supposed to arrange a 

 dance, the caballita ua.iarica, dance of the little 

 horses, and to provide a band. This was not 

 done in 1940 because of the quarrel over the 

 cabildo. The dancers perform on this one day 

 only, visiting the houses of the cabildo. The 

 carguero pays for a Mass in church to which 

 he takes the image of the saint. The image 

 is left in church for the new carguero. 



MAYORDOMIA OF GUADALUPE 



The mayordomia of the Virgin of Guadalupe 

 on December 12 is also a fiesta of the cabildo. 

 The carguero gives food to his relatives in his 

 house and they help him to decorate the church. 

 The image of the Virgin is taken to church for 

 the Mass and is left there for the new carguero. 

 A long Mass is held. In 1940 there were three 

 priests and the cost was $60. Eighteen large 

 candles were provided, each with bows of red, 

 green, and white made out of tin (because of a 

 shortage, four candles had paper ornaments). 

 The candles are carried to church in procession 

 by the helpers (relatives) of the carguero. 

 Behind is carried the Virgin's image, followed 

 by the carguero and his wife. A dance is 

 supposed to be held, but it was omitted in 1940. 



MAYORDOMIA OF SAN ISIDRO 



The mayordomia of San Isidro is also con- 

 nected with the cabildo. The date of the 

 mayordomia is May 15. Information of this 

 mayordomia was obtained from the carguero's 



