Dancers pause during the Sinulog Festival in Cebu City, the Philippines. This festival honors the Santo Niño, or child Jesus, whose statue is held aloft here by a colorfully costumed “queen.” From National Geographic.
Gray and brown? How very, very odd. Even for austere religious observances, that seems like a very unusual color combination for East Asia. I assume it is meant to resemble the garments of monks, presumably Spanish Franciscans?
Looking closely, I do notice it seems the dancers are wearing bright colored cloths beneath their outer garments, and seem also to be wearing tiaras beneath their head coverings. Perhaps part of the dance involves casting off the drab exterior?
Either way, the syncretism on display is wonderful. I've always been fascinated by the ways in which different peoples try to blend vastly disparate beliefs and cultures. I myself try to be syncretic as much and in as many regards as possible - although I must concede, my own syncretism is mostly analytic and academic in nature.
Gray and brown? How very, very odd. Even for austere religious observances, that seems like a very unusual color combination for East Asia. I assume it is meant to resemble the garments of monks, presumably Spanish Franciscans?
ReplyDeleteLooking closely, I do notice it seems the dancers are wearing bright colored cloths beneath their outer garments, and seem also to be wearing tiaras beneath their head coverings. Perhaps part of the dance involves casting off the drab exterior?
Either way, the syncretism on display is wonderful. I've always been fascinated by the ways in which different peoples try to blend vastly disparate beliefs and cultures. I myself try to be syncretic as much and in as many regards as possible - although I must concede, my own syncretism is mostly analytic and academic in nature.