pinata boy

This round of photographing is unfolding on many levels. First of all, I am beginning to feel like one of the community doing the rounds for Las Posadas. It starts at one home each night and ends at another. The next night it picks up at the last home and goes to the next etc. On Friday night, the home was attached to the tienda on the corner of Orizaba and Refugio.That's where we began tonight. At first it seemed no one else would show up but I was early. At 8 pm, families entered the little sala cum tienda storage area and a short prayer service was led by one of the women. We went outside and became pilgrims, seeking shelter for Mary and Joseph as we sang and carried candles along the street.

As modestly as the evening began, what a surprise was in store. Our designated house, acting as the inn, opened onto a large inner courtyard, nicely decorated for the occasion. We sat down and shortly the traditional ponche (recipe here) was served. Then came a large, thin sweet flatbread and finally tamales. Later gifts... nicely packaged candies, cookies and another of fruits...were given to each guest. And then finally, what the kids had been waiting for all night...the grand finale, pinatas.

The photograph above was taken with a wide angle lens, the on camera flash set to rear curtain. I usually don't like flash but I do like the way this one turned out. I like the overall effect so well, I'll have to learn how to do it again..