Mayor in Mexico Marries Alligator-Like Reptile in Traditional Ceremony

In a remarkable display of local tradition and cultural significance, the mayor of San Pedro Huamelula in Mexico, Victor Hugo Sosa, has recently married an alligator-like reptile known as Alicia Adriana, whom he affectionately refers to as the “princess girl.” The wedding, celebrated with great enthusiasm, is believed to bring good fortune to the community.

The town of San Pedro Huamelula, inhabited by the indigenous Chontal people in the southern state of Oaxaca, has a longstanding practice of uniting a man and a female caiman in matrimony to commemorate the peace between the Chontal and Huave indigenous groups. This union symbolizes the merging of the two communities.

With the locals clapping and dancing in joyous celebration, the mayor and his scaly bride partook in a re-enactment of an ancestral ritual. During the ceremony, Mayor Sosa expressed his deep affection, stating, “I accept responsibility because we love each other. That is what is important. You can’t have a marriage without love… I yield to marriage with the princess girl.” Photographs captured the mayor tenderly kissing Alicia Adriana on the head.

Before the wedding, the caiman, donning a vibrant green skirt, a hand-embroidered tunic, and a headdress adorned with ribbons and sequins, is carried from house to house, allowing the locals to hold her and dance in revelry. To prevent any mishaps, the reptile’s snout is securely bound shut.

Adorned in a white bride’s costume, the caiman is eventually escorted to the local town hall, where the marriage ceremony takes place. Following the event, Mayor Sosa and his reptilian bride danced joyfully to the traditional melodies that filled the air.

“We are happy because we celebrate the union of two cultures. People are content,” Mayor Sosa expressed to the AFP news agency, highlighting the significance of the ceremonial marriage in fostering cultural harmony and unity within the community.

The marriage between a man and a female caiman has been a cherished tradition in San Pedro Huamelula for an impressive 230 years, symbolizing not only the union of two individuals but also the merging of diverse cultural backgrounds. Caimans, which are indigenous to Mexico and Central America, typically inhabit marshes and waterways.

While this unique union may seem unconventional to outsiders, for the people of San Pedro Huamelula, it serves as a testament to their rich heritage, beliefs, and the bond they share with their natural surroundings.

The marriage between Mayor Victor Hugo Sosa and Alicia Adriana, the “princess girl” caiman, will undoubtedly be remembered as a captivating blend of tradition, love, and the celebration of cultural unity within the indigenous communities of Mexico.