Blasts of Color

Tonight we experienced our third castillo, which is definitely the best of all Mexican fireworks. A castillo is an enormous wooden tower (this one was over 60 ft. tall) loaded with handmade flares that are laid out in precise designs and all connected by fuse wire. When lit, the different sections spin, whistle, and throw sparks in every direction.
Back in December I posted a blip of a man dancing around with a "torito" a flare covered bull. The purpose of this seems to be to throw sparks into the crowd! Several of these seem to precede the lighting of the castillo, and tonight was the first time I had seen a woman participate.
A brass band accompanies all this activity, as well as dancing people dressed in doll like costumes that are made of paper maché and are about 10 feet tall.
A street vendor was baking some yummy little pancakes that you can top with caramel sauce or marmalade.
All this took place in the Carmen del Alto churchyard in honor of a particular saint and was preceded by a procession through the local neighborhood.
In the afternoon, folk dancers from the area, dressed in brightly colored dresses and neon shirts, wowed the crowd with a spirited dance program.
What a fiesta!