Each week on World Music (Saturday nights from 8-10 on KSTX 89.1 FM), I take a look at festivals happening around the world along with the music of the cultures. This week, supernatural celebrations abound in Mexico.
CONGRESO DE BRUJOS
Catemaco, Mexico lies on the Gulf of Mexico in Veracruz. Normally a sedate, drowsy little town, it becomes the center of witchcraft next weekend. The National Congress of Witches will be underway.
They arrive in their thousands, not just on broomsticks but also via other means of transportation. For many years practitioners of magic have congregated in this idyllic and beautiful area.
The festival kicks off with mandatory ‘black mass’ and for the remainder of the weekend, spells are exchanged, limpias, or spiritual cleansings are performed, and of course much more sinister services are available, but they all carry a price tag.
In 2008, the Catholic Church in Mexico requested and got a name change for the shenanigans, the event is now known as Magic Rituals, which sounds infinitely less intimidating.
You can hear more about this and other celebrations happening around the world this and every Saturday on World Music with Deirdre Saravia, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on KSTX 89.1 FM.
