While in Honduras, I went to a wedding! First of all, I can’t believe I was invited to a wedding just 2 weeks before it took place, unheard of in the States. There would be the head count issue, and the number of invites you’re allowed as a guest is typically limited to one per guest.
My teammate Matt and I were invited by teachers we work with at the school, along with two other teachers that were volunteers. The pre-K teacher I worked with is married to the P.E./Art teacher that Matt worked with, and they are a sweet, very generous couple.
The wedding took place in the Catholic Church at the Cathedral in the central square of Juticalpa. Mass is a large part of the ceremony and at the end, they lassoed the couple in “The Lasso of Love”. Juticalpa is located in the district of Olancho, the largest and some would say, most rugged of Honduras. It is known for ranching, cattle, cowboys and agriculture. So the lasso of love is a tradition here, made up of white, silken cords that are knotted every few inches and then tied together and lassoed around the couple after exchanging their vows.
After the wedding guests went to the groom’s home to celebrate. We were ushered past a live band at the door and into the seating area, set up in the courtyard between what looked like houses. The tables were close, getting to the dance floor or to another table required meeting your neighbors and smiling a lot, to make up for (any lack of Spanish)!
We were served a traditional dish first, which looked and tasted similar to a tamale. Dinner was a pasta salad, rice, chicken, and a sweet-ish dinner roll, then there was dancing. The majority of guests seemed to be family of all ages, and most left an hour or so after dinner was served. But the band played on so we stayed, and danced and danced. The wedding ceremony began around 6pm and dinner was about 8pm, and we danced the rest of the night which ended about 2am. The bride and groom were there dancing with us, and the groom came over multiple times asking if we needed anything and inquiring if we were having a good time. Attentive to so many guests he didn’t even know at his own wedding. We all felt so welcomed and a part of their celebration.
Another tradition is the cake cutting ceremony, with a twist. They wait until midnight to cut the cake, and instead of feeding each other, they eat the bite at the same time together. It was an intimate moment, at least we Americans felt this was a private moment, but they didn’t seem to mind sharing it with their guests!
This church was the largest church in Juticalpa with mass several times a day so that anyone may attend. The mass for a wedding celebration is no exception, the doors are open and all are welcome. This really struck me as a true example of the public declaration they made. Anyone and potentially everyone was able to witness their union and commitment, pretty cool.
Overall, the people I met and worked with were welcoming and inclusive, it consistently amazed and humbled me. Ready and willing to share what they had, from homemade lunch, a ride home in the packed car, to family gatherings at home. The hospitality and generosity of the Honduran people is something I will never forget and want to emulate when life gets back to a regular rhythm.
