La Calenda

In the midst of all the Dia de los Muertos festivities, on Oct 28th there were six weddings at the Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán in Oaxaca City: that's one wedding on every hour. Following each ceremony was a celebratory calenda or procession down M. Alcalá. Shots of mezcal were liberally poured to toast the newlywed couple. Musical fanfare announced the beginning of the parade; Chinas Oaxaqueñas twirled with canastas of flowers on their head; marmots spun and giant monos de calendas and stilt walkers towered above the wedding party. La Calenda is a beautiful tradition that invites not only guests but the whole community to celebrate feast days, quinceañeras and new beginnings.