ABSTRACT
The Indians first became Catholics at the point of a sword and they ended by sincerely believing in and loving the saints, not only because they found moral comfort and spiritual glamour in them, but also because the religious ceremonial provided an outlet for drama and fun to relieve their squalid and monotonous lives. The Indians loved the saints as a child loves a new doll. They were fascinated by the paste faces, glassy eyes and real eyelashes, and the fanciful clothes of brocades and lace. The Spanish Church used to advantage the spirit of the old Zapotec societies of mutual assistance, adapting it to the maintenance of religious festivities. The dance was a great success, the jazzy marimba played modern dances, alternating with the band that played only sones. Men of all ages danced energetically with shy girls and stately matrons loaded down with gold.
