L.A. Easter Traditions
Spring has sprung around here, and we decided it was time to get out of the house and do something totally L.A. While the rain has been dreary at times, it's also been just intermittent enough that we aren't as gloomy, soggy, and in danger of being afflicted with SAD (Seasonal Afflictive Disorder) as our relatives and friends in Northern California are. Saturday was a somewhat cool day, but sunny and warm enough to hop in the car, hit the freeway and get active this Easter weekend.
While we've never been to the Easter morning services at the Hollywood Bowl (and given the frequent jams in and around that part of town, we probably never will), we decided to trek to Olvera Street for yet another festive event. This one is the Blessing of the Animals. If you've ever read the children's book Juanita by Leo Politi, then you know a little bit about this tradition. Since the 1930's, people bring their pets and other animals to the old plazaat Olvera Street to be blessed by the clergy. The tradition is an old one, and dates to at least the Middle Ages, if not earlier. Some say the ritual started with St. Francis of Assisi (San Francisco de Asis), who was known for his devotion to the animal kingdom. Others say that it was St. Anthony the Abbot (San Antonio de Abad) who initiated the ceremony. In any event, here in L.A., the Blessing of the Animals is not held on the feast day of either saint, but on Easter Saturday.
When we arrived, there were already tons of people there, many with dogs. I think about 90% of the animals that ended up being blessed were canines. We did see a number of birds and cats, but it wasn't until the procession started that we saw a wider range of beasts. Since the actual procession and blessing wasn't going to begin for a while yet, we decided to walk through Olvera Street past all the puestos. We did so, and ended up stopping for tacos. L.A. is definitely Taco Town, and it's become quite a challenge to find the tastiest taco in this city; there are so many good ones, from old, respected restaurants down to taco carts on street corners. Some are close to the tacos that most of you have probably had. Other versions are very authentic in terms of what you'd find if you crossed the border-- no cheese or other fixin's, just a handful of meat and some type of salsa on a corn tortilla.
After our repast, we walked back to the Plaza to snag a spot, since it was almost time for the main event to commence. We then started seeing some unusual pets-- a python, a boa constrictor, and a pot-bellied pig, for starters. Quite a few people had tiny cats or dogs (and yes, some of them were chihuahuas) with little sombreros on their heads. Finally, Cardinal Mahony and other officials walked around the plaza towards the stage, followed by the traditional cows (cows are always first, as they are considered the animals most beneficial to mankind), festooned with garlands of flowers.
The usual speeches began, including one by Mayor Villaraigosa. Throughout the crowd, I noticed quite a few people with t-shirts denouncing the anti-immigrant stance of Congress-- they may have been there on their own, or have come over to relax after participating in another rally downtown that was taking place at about the same time. Once the politicking and self-congratulations or whatever was being said was over, the cows were brought in front of the Cardinal, who used some sort of metal aspergill or other container to drench each animal in a shower of holy water. Behind the cows were a virtual menagerie: geese, chickens, ducks, pigs, goats, snakes, and all kinds of two-and-four-footed critters, carried by official marchers, Aztec dancers, and group dressed as vaqueros and dons from the days of the Californios. Once this group went through, then everyone else who had brought their pet(s) were guided in front of the Cardinal. At the end, any bipedal mammal that wanted to be blessed could come up in front of the stage and do so. I was standing close enough that I ended up being blessed. Well, I've always thought I was blessed to begin with, but it's good to be officially recognized as blessed. *grin*
Afterwards, we wandered around looking at some of the many animals, munching on churros from a churro stand on the Plaza. I also went to see one of my favorite sights on Olvera Street-- Leo Politi's mural of "The Blessing of the Animals," painted on the wall of the Biscailuz Building, which houses the Instituto Cultural Mexicano. All in all, it was a good start to the Easter weekend.
[If you're an Angeleno, this year is the 225th anniversary of the founding of the pueblo that became the monster that ate Southern California. If you want to celebrate this birthday year doing typically L.A. things, try some of the to-dos on this list from LAist.com, which borrowed the idea from Los Angeles City Nerd. I've done about half of the fifteen items listed so far; not too shabby...]
While we've never been to the Easter morning services at the Hollywood Bowl (and given the frequent jams in and around that part of town, we probably never will), we decided to trek to Olvera Street for yet another festive event. This one is the Blessing of the Animals. If you've ever read the children's book Juanita by Leo Politi, then you know a little bit about this tradition. Since the 1930's, people bring their pets and other animals to the old plazaat Olvera Street to be blessed by the clergy. The tradition is an old one, and dates to at least the Middle Ages, if not earlier. Some say the ritual started with St. Francis of Assisi (San Francisco de Asis), who was known for his devotion to the animal kingdom. Others say that it was St. Anthony the Abbot (San Antonio de Abad) who initiated the ceremony. In any event, here in L.A., the Blessing of the Animals is not held on the feast day of either saint, but on Easter Saturday.
When we arrived, there were already tons of people there, many with dogs. I think about 90% of the animals that ended up being blessed were canines. We did see a number of birds and cats, but it wasn't until the procession started that we saw a wider range of beasts. Since the actual procession and blessing wasn't going to begin for a while yet, we decided to walk through Olvera Street past all the puestos. We did so, and ended up stopping for tacos. L.A. is definitely Taco Town, and it's become quite a challenge to find the tastiest taco in this city; there are so many good ones, from old, respected restaurants down to taco carts on street corners. Some are close to the tacos that most of you have probably had. Other versions are very authentic in terms of what you'd find if you crossed the border-- no cheese or other fixin's, just a handful of meat and some type of salsa on a corn tortilla.
After our repast, we walked back to the Plaza to snag a spot, since it was almost time for the main event to commence. We then started seeing some unusual pets-- a python, a boa constrictor, and a pot-bellied pig, for starters. Quite a few people had tiny cats or dogs (and yes, some of them were chihuahuas) with little sombreros on their heads. Finally, Cardinal Mahony and other officials walked around the plaza towards the stage, followed by the traditional cows (cows are always first, as they are considered the animals most beneficial to mankind), festooned with garlands of flowers.
The usual speeches began, including one by Mayor Villaraigosa. Throughout the crowd, I noticed quite a few people with t-shirts denouncing the anti-immigrant stance of Congress-- they may have been there on their own, or have come over to relax after participating in another rally downtown that was taking place at about the same time. Once the politicking and self-congratulations or whatever was being said was over, the cows were brought in front of the Cardinal, who used some sort of metal aspergill or other container to drench each animal in a shower of holy water. Behind the cows were a virtual menagerie: geese, chickens, ducks, pigs, goats, snakes, and all kinds of two-and-four-footed critters, carried by official marchers, Aztec dancers, and group dressed as vaqueros and dons from the days of the Californios. Once this group went through, then everyone else who had brought their pet(s) were guided in front of the Cardinal. At the end, any bipedal mammal that wanted to be blessed could come up in front of the stage and do so. I was standing close enough that I ended up being blessed. Well, I've always thought I was blessed to begin with, but it's good to be officially recognized as blessed. *grin*
Afterwards, we wandered around looking at some of the many animals, munching on churros from a churro stand on the Plaza. I also went to see one of my favorite sights on Olvera Street-- Leo Politi's mural of "The Blessing of the Animals," painted on the wall of the Biscailuz Building, which houses the Instituto Cultural Mexicano. All in all, it was a good start to the Easter weekend.
[If you're an Angeleno, this year is the 225th anniversary of the founding of the pueblo that became the monster that ate Southern California. If you want to celebrate this birthday year doing typically L.A. things, try some of the to-dos on this list from LAist.com, which borrowed the idea from Los Angeles City Nerd. I've done about half of the fifteen items listed so far; not too shabby...]
posted by Mr. Sandman | 7:40 PM
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