Do you think this was a funeral?

[KSUDiver]

This is not about diving, so I hope nobody minds if I post this!

When we were in Coz in March I heard what sounded like a marching band coming down the street one afternoon. We are in the Independencia neighborhood if that makes any difference. Anyway, I went outside to see what was going on and took my phone in case I could get any good pics. At first I thought it was a parade because it started with a band of mostly brass instruments, but then there was a large group of people carrying banners and what looked from a distance like a statue of the Virgin Mary, followed by a line of cars, which is when I thought it might be a funeral so I stashed the phone. Didn't see anything that looked like a hearse though. I stood and watched for a while, trying to be respectful. If it was a funeral it sounds wrong to say I enjoyed it...maybe I should say I appreciated it?

So does this sound to anyone like it was a funeral procession, or if not, can anyone tell me what they think it was? And was it OK for me, an obvious gringa, to stand and watch? I want to know if I was being rude in case it happens again!

 

[Steve_C]

In Sante Fe I saw something similar. There was a virgin mary "doll" that they had in a local church and once a year it was paraded out and around town. It was a local custom. Could have just been a religous event of some sort.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Was it the last week in March? That would have been Semana Santa--the Holy Week preceding Easter--and pretty much everywhere in Latin America there are parades just as you describe. I never thought of it, but I suppose it can in some ways resemble a New Orleans-style funeral!

 

[KSUDiver]

It was the third week in March, probably either Wednesday the 18th or Thursday the 19th. Whatever it was, it was very interesting and I'm glad I got to see it. I like getting bits of local culture like that.