Party in our Barrio

Hi there all:
Well, the good news is we were invited and partook in the celebrations that happen in Banos in October. It is the month to celebrate the Santa Maria de Agua. She is the resident Saint who has performed many miracles here in Banos. Remember this is a catholic society and we are new to the barrio and therefore we joined in to give thanks. Each barrio (neighbourhood) celebrates on a different day, for this whole month. We started off by contributing to the party finacially. Then yesterday, we were delivered a plastic bag of cloudy yellow stuff from a back of a truck with other bags. It looked questionable, let me tell you. I didn't quite get all they were saying because of the language and enthusiasm, so I asked the workers here. It turned out to be the traditional juice drunk in the house in celebration. It is Naranjilla, Pinapple, and I think Guanabana (say that a bunch of times) fresh fruit grown here with out alcohol. It was quite good and refreshing.
Our neighbors were enthusiasticly wanting our participation in the celebration and were constantly reminding us in the streets to come and join them.
They were having games in the street starting at 2. So we went over at 3 knowing that that was the true time it started. We were only a little late. There were egg tosses, egg walks, dancing with a partner with oranges between you heads and also musical chairs and a small soccer game. Dane and I participated in the dancing (I will never look at an orange the same way.) Dane did the egg games and I did the musical chairs and Dane did the soccer.
Here is the interesting thing, the whole time this is going on in the streets, there is a live band playing music right in the middle of it all. The band consisted of drums, cymbals, key board, trumpets, guitars etc. No kidding. They just dodge or jump if something comes their way, not even missing a note. It reminded me of those carnival game of hitting the teacher with a wet sponge. I wonder if they get combat pay? When Dane was playing soccer, he fell into the cymbals and hurt himself. End of fun for Dane. There were no prizes for winning games except the shared laughing and smiling making it all so much better.
There was lots of laughing with the kids and families. They were all together, everyone was included. Dane and Rachelle were just surrounded with kids. It was alot of fun. Since Rachelle is volunteering in the foundation, Arte Del Mundo, teaching children to speak English, some of her students were there and were attaching themselves to her and Dane like velcro.
Later, we had to go home to get the dogs organized, food wise, but went out again, asap, to join in a parade. Mission: pick up the statue of the virgin and baby at the church and bring her back to our barrio. We were all armed with roses (her symbol) and walked, with the still playing yet slightly damaged band, to the church.
Rachelle, Dane and I were waving to the people in the streets. The locals were quite shocked that the Extranjeros were participating. After a moment of shock, they realized they liked that we were participating and happily and enthusiasticly waved back.
We walked about 5 blocks to the church, around the park, to its entrance and into the church we went. There was a short sermon in the cathedral. Which is quite beautiful by the way. There are huge paintings of her miracles of saving people of Banos. The decor and energy put into this church is wonderful, especially when you remember they don't have alot of money and the community built the church. Then, we joined the parade back to our barrio's community center. Our neighbours carrying the statue on their shoulders, men and women alike. A padre came and gave a sermon yet again. I think to bless the barrio and give kind words of wisdom.
We zipped out the door shortly thereafter, as our stomaches were growling louder than the padre was talking and went for supper. When we were on our way back we found our neighbors were bringing back the Virgin on their shoulders at the church. I guess she is only allowed to make short appearances and can't stay out late.
We traveled back to the barrio where we had more juice and more fun.
They had a fire works effegy of the Virgen. We met with the man that creates them and he lives in the neighboring town of Pelileo. He makes them small like ours: 2 meter or up to 12 meters for places like Quito, Ambato, Puyo and Cuenca. She was made like a hollow cone with fireworks surrounding her whole person. Then what happens, with the ever present band playing, she is popped over the top of his grandson (of the fireworks maker) and he walks around to the music, ablaze with spinning sparks and shooting comets. One of the shooting comets shot within 2 feet of us and zipped under one of the spectators bottom where he started jumping, as you can well imagine. I am amazed that no one gets hurt in these events.
They also had a bit of a fire ,in the and on the, street as tradition. There is no way in heck in Canada you could have a fire directly on the pavement.
Fire works explosions happen periodily throughout the day now, and are to be expected for the entire month. We will be able to hear the other barrios each in turn on their alloted day, celebrating over the next month, afternoon and night. We will also see the virgin being taken out for her evening stroll, to and from the church.
So all said and done it was a great time. Of course our dog doesn't like the fireworks and has expressed her oppinon of the noise by peeeeing everywhere. I am hoping by the time the fireworks stop, our dog might be used to it because shortly after this celebration is over, the celebrating for Christmas starts, the beginning of Dec, for the whole month. And if she doesn't do okey dokey, she might need medication to survive the celebrating.
Talk with you all later
Robin