Mexico is a country bursting with unique traditions, some of which are
extremely local, scarcely known outside of their hometown. The
masked zayacos of Ajijic in Jalisco are one such example. For the six
days of Carnival celebrations, young people put on masks and
costumes, often taking the opportunity to dress as the opposite sex. A
person who decides to dress up as a female zayaca will usually stuff it
with balloons, in order to make herself more curvaceous, and use a
purse to carry bags of baking flour. Then the zayacos lead the morning
parades through town, chasing kids and teenagers, tackling them,
shoving flour in their faces and down their pants and shirts. All while
crowds of hundreds cram the streets for a view of the fun, which
serves as a way to let off steam before the 40 days of Lent.
