desfile.....

that's parade in spanish. and today was amazingly fun time # 9million634,284....with my kids. it's a big national holiday here in mexico....dia de la revolucion. and for that, there are several cool traditions that spread across the country....one of those traditions is to have this big long parade in which every school in the area participates by marching, dancing, and constructing pyramids in the streets of the "county seat" (as we know them in Texas)...so basically the biggest pueblo in the area hosts the big desfile. it was chapala for us.

so all week my kids practiced and practiced and practiced....as is custom, the girls march in four lines first, then the boys follow behind them. the girls must create a dance routine that they perform periodically throughout the marching. the boys simultaneously construct human pyramids. it was a really cool experience for me to watch them work together, support one another, and show each other such kindness.

and it was equally fun to march in the big parade....fireworks and all.....in front of literally hundreds and hundreds of people. every business closes due to the holiday....and all dress nicely to come and watch the parade happenings. it's the biggest thing of the semester (or so i've heard) for the public schools in the area. there were schools who built pyramids five "stories" tall...and that's boys standing on top of boys that high in the air. there were other schools who carried rings of fire that their kids did gymnastics with. there were others who had hula hoops and were tossing them, jumping with them, etc. still others had the traditional mexican attire and performed beautiful traditional dances as they marched in the street. the private schools maybe aren't as preoccupied with preparation, but none the less participate. our school, however, put lots of time and energy into the event....and it paid off. i was so proud of my kids as they marched carrying their orange and blue flags, smiling, and saying "ya llegamos?? casi??? ya????" hehe...... a very fun day for all of us.