In Mexican hamlet, fishermen honor patron saints with water fight

Published: 2007-07-06

MEXCALTITAN, Mexico (CNS) -- On the island hamlet of Mexcaltitan, the local fishermen's traditional race between boats carrying Sts. Peter and Paul statutes has been recently replaced by a water fight. For decades, the residents of this tiny island north of Puerto Vallarta have taken statues of Sts. Peter and Paul out on the San Pedro River every June 29, the saints' feast day, for Mass and a blessing of the waters that yield their modest livelihoods. One boat would transport St. Peter and another St. Paul. With the saints perched on the bows of their respective boats, the fishermen would start racing. If St. Peter's boat won, it would signal that bountiful catches were in store for the upcoming year. Not surprisingly, "St. Peter was always allowed to win," said veteran shrimper Antonio Osuna. For reasons no one could fully explain, the tradition was abandoned, although a new one emerged to replace it. Today, the residents of the island still take the saints out on the river, but the statues now ride in the same boat and are accompanied by the local priest and a nine-piece band. After some 35 boats gathered for Mass and Father Jose Ernesto Isiordia blessed the waters, the assembled crowd broke into their new tradition: a raging water fight.

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