Wednesday, September 17, 2025

Weather takes its toll on annual carpets of sawdust and flowers

An unusual rainfall devastated most of the ephemeral art that covers the main streets of Huamantla, Tlaxcala, every year for “the night no one sleeps.”

As they do every year, Huamantla residents prepared for months to celebrate La Virgen de la Caridad, a Marian title of the Virgin Mary, on the night of August 14 and the early hours of the following day.

A procession leaves the church at midnight and follows a colorful path of carpets that were crafted for hours before from sawdust and flowers, following a tradition that dates back to pre-Hispanic times.

Everything was ready on Tuesday night for one more sleepless night after residents spent between six and eight hours completing their intricate carpets.

But just as the procession was leaving the church, a light but persistent rain began to fall, surprising locals and national and international tourists alike and turning the carpets into colorful rivulets.

The work was washed away in a mere 10 minutes on some streets, although a few of the colorful carpets remained as the procession rushed through town.

One of those was the 200-meter-long carpet created by Heriberto Saldaña. The water only washed away the sides of his creation, but the risk that his work would be carried away by the unexpected rain was almost enough to make him cry.

[wpgmza id=”53″]

“There was a year that it rained and it all washed away, there’s nothing we can do, it depends on the weather . . . ” he said.

Locals said it had been at least 10 years since rain was recorded on the night of August 14.

However, visitors did have the chance to admire the work earlier in the day.

Julieta Hernández, visiting from the neighboring state of Hidalgo, said “it was beautiful, I came to witness the night no one sleeps and to see the virgin. It is beautiful, I leave amazed.”

Source: Reforma (sp)
Have something to say? Paid Subscribers get all access to make & read comments.
Guiengola, Oaxaca

Biologists work to turn Oaxaca’s Guiengola archaeological zone into nature reserve

0
Led by 23-year-old biologist Eduardo Michi, a group of scientists has deployed camera traps across more than 300 hectares to document local fauna like coatis, rabbits, squirrels and ocelots.
Fonatur glorieta in Los Cabos

MND Local: Major infrastructure projects reflect growing pains in Los Cabos

0
New airport facilities and new highways are on the way in Los Cabos, as our local news roundup takes a look at what's happening in Baja California Sur.
mural honoring Alicia Matías

A mural at explosion site in CDMX honors Alicia Matías, who died saving her granddaughter

1
The 49-year-old heroine's death has been met with an outpouring of admiration while the nation mourns the 15 victims of last week's gas tanker explosion.
BETA Version - Powered by Perplexity