Nahua Jaguar Head Mask
This mask represents the jaguar and is part of the Festival of the Holy Cross in Mexico. This festival is celebrated on May 3rd. During this festival three crosses, one from each barrio, are moved from the mountain top down to the river side. Beads and flowers are used to decorate the cross and they are paraded through the town and back to the mountain top. During this procession, two dancers dressed as jaguars fight in the main plaza. While other dance groups do perform during the festival, they withdraw when the jaguars approach. The jaguars who fight dedicate themselves to San Nicolas, their patron saint, and who they see as the Lord of the Jungle. These battles are thought to appease the deities for a successful planting season.