In a centuries-old tradition, the mayor of San Pedro Huamelula, Mexico, has taken part in a symbolic wedding—this time marrying a female crocodile.
The ritual, rooted in Indigenous customs from southern Mexico’s Oaxaca region, has been practiced for more than 230 years. It is believed to bring blessings of rain, abundant harvests, and harmony with nature.
Daniel Gutierrez, mayor of San Pedro Huamelula in southern Mexico, took part in the wedding ceremony with a female reptile. The ritual represents a symbolic union meant to preserve harmony and celebrate the ancestral bond between Indigenous communities.
The ritual is part of cultural practice in Mexico. Two years ago, earlier mayor, Victor Hugo Sosa, also organised a similar wedding.
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The tradition marks the peaceful union between two Indigenous groups—the Chontal and the Huave. According to local history, the original ritual began when a Chontal king, now symbolised by the mayor, married a Huave princess, symbolised by the caiman, an alligator-like creature native to the region.
The Huave people live along the coast of Oaxaca, while San Pedro Huamelula lies inland. The marriage ritual reflects both a spiritual and cultural connection with nature and history.
Before the wedding, the reptile is paraded through the town. Dressed in a wedding gown, the caiman is carried from house to house. Residents embrace her and dance in celebration.
For safety, her snout is tied shut. She is later dressed in a white bridal gown and taken to the town hall for the ceremony.
Following the ceremony, the mayor and the bride dance to traditional music. The mayor later said, “We are happy because we celebrate the union of two cultures. People are content.”
The celebration ends with the mayor placing a kiss on the crocodile’s snout, completing the symbolic wedding that locals believe brings blessings from nature.
