(no subject)
So I know I don't post here often, but it would be a shame for any of you to miss out on this story:
So I'm in bed, settling in to go to sleep, when I hear this rhythmic banging noise. At first, I assume a hobo is amusing himself; they do that from time to time. But it's too steady for some drunk guy with a bucket, and it keeps getting louder, and pretty soon there are other noises going along with it. So I get up and go out on the balcony to see what on earth is going on.
Turns out there's a parade going down my street. At 4 in the morning.
They've got a statue of the Virgin Mary (the traditional one you see, with the big halo around her...usually Our Lady of insert-name-of-place-where-Mary-has-supposedly-appeared-here, I think) in the back of a pickup truck leading the procession. She looks very majestic, I can tell you. There's a guy banging QUITE loudly on a big drum while another guy drags the drum along on wheels, a group of women dancers wearing some kind of robes and I think maybe playing little chimes or bells (the bells might have been on their jewelry), and another group of dancers in what I can only describe as country line dancing costumes...shiny pants with fringe down the sides, shirts with fringe, cowboy hats, etc. Bringing up the rear is a pickup truck with some kind of loudspeaker in the back playing distorted music I can't even begin to identify in terms of title, genre, or instrument. All I know for sure is that it is very loud. Several other cars trail behind, hazard lights dutifully blinking. There's a traffic cop overseeing things; apparently these folks did their paperwork and got a permit. Groups of people gather on the sidewalks to follow this little procession; some have flowers, others have candles, most look cold and not real thrilled. Some of my neighbors are out on their balconies and porches as well, bemusedly watching the show go by. All I can think is how I wish I hadn't taken the batteries out of my camera (although the wireless Guitar Hero controller was clearly the priority at the time) and how I wish my roommates were awake to reassure me that I'm not hallucinating.
The parade keeps going, and I eventually am cold and go back inside. I look up "hispanic holidays" in Wikipedia and sure enough, under "Public Holidays in Mexico," I find my answer. Apparently December 12 is Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe, "the day that Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared on Tepeyac hill to the native Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin." Extra credit to anyone who calls me and can correctly pronounce Cuauhtlatoatzin. Wikipedia goes on to note that this is not an official holiday, which I guess means the post office is still open.
So there you go. A little slice of life living in a hispanic neighborhood in Los Angeles, California. We may not know what the hell to do with Christmas, but we've got Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe ALL FIGURED OUT.
So I'm in bed, settling in to go to sleep, when I hear this rhythmic banging noise. At first, I assume a hobo is amusing himself; they do that from time to time. But it's too steady for some drunk guy with a bucket, and it keeps getting louder, and pretty soon there are other noises going along with it. So I get up and go out on the balcony to see what on earth is going on.
Turns out there's a parade going down my street. At 4 in the morning.
They've got a statue of the Virgin Mary (the traditional one you see, with the big halo around her...usually Our Lady of insert-name-of-place-where-Mary-has-supposedly-appeared-here, I think) in the back of a pickup truck leading the procession. She looks very majestic, I can tell you. There's a guy banging QUITE loudly on a big drum while another guy drags the drum along on wheels, a group of women dancers wearing some kind of robes and I think maybe playing little chimes or bells (the bells might have been on their jewelry), and another group of dancers in what I can only describe as country line dancing costumes...shiny pants with fringe down the sides, shirts with fringe, cowboy hats, etc. Bringing up the rear is a pickup truck with some kind of loudspeaker in the back playing distorted music I can't even begin to identify in terms of title, genre, or instrument. All I know for sure is that it is very loud. Several other cars trail behind, hazard lights dutifully blinking. There's a traffic cop overseeing things; apparently these folks did their paperwork and got a permit. Groups of people gather on the sidewalks to follow this little procession; some have flowers, others have candles, most look cold and not real thrilled. Some of my neighbors are out on their balconies and porches as well, bemusedly watching the show go by. All I can think is how I wish I hadn't taken the batteries out of my camera (although the wireless Guitar Hero controller was clearly the priority at the time) and how I wish my roommates were awake to reassure me that I'm not hallucinating.
The parade keeps going, and I eventually am cold and go back inside. I look up "hispanic holidays" in Wikipedia and sure enough, under "Public Holidays in Mexico," I find my answer. Apparently December 12 is Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe, "the day that Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared on Tepeyac hill to the native Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin." Extra credit to anyone who calls me and can correctly pronounce Cuauhtlatoatzin. Wikipedia goes on to note that this is not an official holiday, which I guess means the post office is still open.
So there you go. A little slice of life living in a hispanic neighborhood in Los Angeles, California. We may not know what the hell to do with Christmas, but we've got Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe ALL FIGURED OUT.