Politicians often have to uphold some odd, outmoded traditions. They have to eat the local specialty food, or wear the local hat, or preside over the emergence of the local weather-forecasting groundhog.
The mayor of one Mexican fishing town wins the oddball award easily.
Mayor Victor Aguilar of San Pedro Huamelula is expected to marry a crocodile.
It is a symbolic marriage, bringing together the land and the sea. It has been done for so long, the locals expect it and demand it.
The symbolic ceremony goes back to the 18th century at least. The original residents of the area, the Chontal Indians, believe the ritual brings an abundant catch.
San Pedro Huamelula, on Mexico’s Pacific coast, depends on seafood to survive.
The Chontals believe the marriage also brings peace and prosperity.
The local people, called “marenos,” consider the crocodile to be a princess. She is paraded through town with full regal honors, accompanied by a band.
The mayor really has no choice.
“The marenos call her ‘The Princess,’” said Mayor Victor Aguilar. “So the role that I play is to be the husband of the princess.”
The symbolic marriage might not bring a year of prosperity. It does keep the peace short term—a benefit familiar to married people and politicians alike.
And in case the fishing is bad, the mayor can blame the crocodile.
