Tenajapa Carnival ( Running the Bull)

Cuidad Tenajapa had several plazas in different parts of town and the group of performers came to each to run the ritual eight counter clockwise circles chasing the runner in the bull costume. The bull is represented by a wicker cage with horns attached on top. The runners follow the bull in the order of their village hierarchy with the Major Domo leading. The purpose of this annual event is to prepare a clean start for the year by washing away all the bad things that happened in the previous year. The evil spirits are represented by the people wearing masks, lower right.

Traditionally the bull would have been sacrificed at the end assuring a clean start for the new year.