Spring Pageant and Parade

Last March, during our month trip to Sayulita, we stumbled upon yet another celebration. This one involved young children, kings and queens, and decorated pick up trucks for a parade. Everything was so vibrant and colorful with lots of decorative flowers and butterflies. All I saw was an opportunity to take pictures of locals doing their thing, Alex was in awe of the kings and queens and I think Trace and Ozzy were probably bored. I never thought twice about it and never knew what it was for in the first place. Never in a million years did I think that our kids would be in that same celebration exactly one year later. I still am not 100% what it is for but I am 99% sure that it is the celebration of the first day of spring or, primavera, in Spanish. The children in kindergarten elect kings and queens, dress up as butterflies, lady bugs, fairies, etc and the boys as animals. They give a performance, crown the princes and princesses, king and queen, decorate trucks and drive around town in a parade.

Ozzy and I had no idea this was going to happen or be such a big deal until the day before. There are two different kindergartens so there are two different celebrations. Luckily, I just happened to run into one of my gringo friends who has a daughter at the other kindergarten. Their school had the celebration the day before ours and she filled me in, so Ozzy and I went to that one to learn what was expected of us for ours. After getting a little information here on this day and a little there on that day and running around Sayulita and Bucerias for two days we were ready for our schools "spring celebration".

Of course Alex couldn't wait because she got to wear a Sleeping Beauty dress, butterfly wings, tiara and her worn out dirty black school shoes. (just think parents not too sure what to do so do a little bit of everything... Sleeping Beauty, faries and Cinderella before the ball). Ozzy bought Trace an awesome shark costume, to fit his "sometimes" personality. He didn't like the head piece, it scared him and he was worried that he would scare others so he stuck with just the body of the shark. We are not too sure how psyched he was to be a part of all of this but be was a big, brave boy and participated with his class.

After the performance and crownings all the kids jumped in the back of decorated pick up trucks, one for each couple, for a parade around town. The parents happily followed on foot and cheered on their "young-ins". Thus was Ozzy's and my first parade. We noticed as we walked along with the trucks and other parents, (yes, we were the only gringos in the parade, and proud to be there) that everyone in and along parade route stopped what they were doing and watched, smiled, waved and cheered. It was awesome to see and feel the support for the children and the celebration.

We thank the Maestras for putting on such a great, colorful and special celebration of Primavera for the children and community.

I have definitley learned that this culture lives for the moment, the now, they celebrate anything and all things that can be celebrated. It is pretty cool to witness people who live in the moment, there is something to be learned there.

It has taken a while but I think that we are gaining some respect from the parents at the school. I get smiles now, they know we don't know most of what is going on but we try and manage to pull it off. Alex probably gets the award for friendliest in the school and that has gone far. Both the kids have made friends and the local parents have taken notice. During the celebration many familites wanted to take pictures of our kids with their children. All in all, a very fun and special afternoon to be included in the local Sayulita community.