8″ & 7 1/2″ Wooden Indian Men from Chiapas. The man on the right represents a dancer from the fiesta of the masked parachicos of the Dia de San Sebastion, which is held every Janurary 20th in Chiapa de Corzo. The celebration consists of music, dance, handicrafts, religious ceremonies and a fiesta in honor of the three Catholic Saints: Saint Anthony, Our Lord of Esquipulas and Saint Sebastion.
Parachicos refers to dancers and their dance. Each dancer wears a carved wooden mask with a headress, serape, embroidered shawl and multi-colored ribbons. The performers will also play the chinchines as they dance.
The dancers are lead by the severly masked Patron, who carries a quitar and a whip. He is accompanied by one to two flute players and two drummers. As they dance the Patron intones praises and in turn the parachicos respond with cheers. The dance embraces all the levels of local life and promotes mutual respect within the community.
Interestingly, the technique of mask making for the fiesta is passed down generation to generation.
I received the dolls as a gift in 1981 from a friend, Amelia Mijangos from Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico.
8″ & 7 1/2″ Wooden Indian Men from Chiapas. The man on the right represents a dancer from the fiesta of the masked parachicos of the Dia de San Sebastion, which is held every Janurary 20th in Chiapa de Corzo. The celebration consists of music, dance, handicrafts, religious ceremonies and a fiesta in honor of the three Catholic Saints: Saint Anthony, Our Lord of Esquipulas and Saint Sebastion.