It is Semana Santa week. This is big in Alamos. I mean really big. Alamos Mexicanos will go to the beach tomorrow and the Mexicano tourists will come to town.
Also coming to town are the Fariseos. These Mayo Indians, are chosen by their tribes, to represent negative forces. After a forty day pilgrimage from their villages and abstaining from speaking and washing and sex, they arrive in Alamos, and many other Sonoran towns. During this pilgrimage they beat drums and dance and ask for money. By giving money you cleanse your self of your own sins. On Good Friday they begin the return to their villages with money and many cleansed souls.
Through out this week I have heard their drums beating. Today I heard them at our gate. I hesitated at first, slightly unsure of what I might see. Then I put eight pesos in my pocket, grabbed my camera and decided to cleanse myself.
This is who was at my gate. Little fariseos in training. Upon further inspection I recognized my young friend, the seller of many great bottles of antiquities, on the right. An undisputed ring leader, he shoved the red masked youngster forward. He had the money container. I informed them that I could not just give them money. They would need to sing or dance. The ringleader shook his head and wiped his finger across his droopy mask.
Okay, so they had taken vows of silence. No problem.............then bailar, i said.
So, they proceeded to dance and bang the yogurt carton with the stick and I paid them eight pesos and they wandered on up the street to find someone else they could 'fool'.
