MEXICO — The mayor of San Pedro Huamelula tied the knot with a female caiman alligator in an aged-old traditional wedding ceremony aimed to bring prosperity to the community.
As village elders, family and friends watched on, the groom, Mayor Victor Hugo Sosa cantillated his marriage vows in the traditional Chontal language, much to the delight of all those in attendance.
The 7-year-old “bride” who is thought to be a deity representing mother earth and was called “princess girl”, was dressed in bridal white complete with a headdress of ribbons and sequins with its snout tied shut.
During the ceremony, Sosa swore to be faithful to her and accepted responsibility for their love and, towards the end of the vow exchange, sealed the marriage with a kiss.
Legend says that the town of San Mateo del Mar was founded after a Chontal King married a Huave Princess, represented today by the female alligator.
The Huave, an indigenous group living near Oaxaca’s coast, is seen as a reminder of the union between the two cultures.
Prior to the ceremony, the alligator was carried from house to house in a basket to be embraced and welcomed by the locals.
Local fisherman, Joel Vasques intoned the town’s hopes for a long and prosperous marriage for the newlyweds during the ceremony.
Afterwards, the mayor and his new wife shared a traditional dance to celebrate their nuptials.
As the festivities come to a close, the mayor eagerly expressed that this union of cultures was a beautiful thing that was sure to be appreciated by all.
🇲🇽 | El alcalde de San Pedro Huamelula, un pequeño pueblo de México, se casó con un cocodrilo en un ritual anual destinado a simbolizar la unión de los humanos con lo divino. – Reuters pic.twitter.com/rYvtKDAcjr
— Alerta Mundial (@AlertaMundoNews) July 1, 2023
