Mexican mayor weds crocodile in age-old ritual
STORY: This Mexican mayor married his crocodile bride
as part of an age-old ritual symbolizing the joining of humans with the divine
Location: San Pedro Huamelula, Mexico
The ritual is believed to go back centuries to the pre-colonial era
(Victor Hugo Sosa, San Pedro Huamelula’s Mayor)
"As we have explained, it is the union of two cultures. The union of the Huaves and the Chontales. This is the result of a problem between these two cultures. This represents the union between the princess - the crocodile - and a servant."
The crocodile is believed to be a deity representing mother earth
The marriage acts as a prayer for nature’s bounty
(Olivia Perez, Person in charge of dressing the crocodile)
"For us the crocodile is important because she is the queen, the princess who comes to bring us water, a good harvest, rains, so that God the Almighty Father sends us food, fish, corn, the harvest."
