Southern Illinois University Carbondale OpenSIUC Honors Theses University Honors Program 5-1997 Segundo Viernes: Miracle in the Valley of the Butterflies Colleen Springer Southern Illinois University Carbondale Follow this and additional works at: http://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/uhp_theses Recommended Citation Springer, Colleen, "Segundo Viernes: Miracle in the Valley of the Butterflies" (1997). Honors Theses. Paper 63. This Dissertation/Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the University Honors Program at OpenSIUC. It has been accepted for inclusion in Honors Theses by an authorized administrator of OpenSIUC. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. Segundo Viernes: Miracle in the Valley ofthe Butterflies By Colleen Springer University Honors Thesis April 28, 1997 Dedications In the culture of my country, where individualism is so highly valued, I begin with a dedication on behalf of the beauty of partnership, to Edith Turner, the Marings, the McCalls, and mi primo informante, Roberto. 2 A fallen flower returning to the branch? It was a butterfly. -Zen poem 3 Acknowledgments My warmest appreciation goes out to all the kind people of San Miguel Papalutla, especially to Don Serapio and Sra. Hilda Perez. A million thanks also goes out to my advisor, Dr. John McCall, and Dr. Frederick Williams of the University Honors Program at Southern Illinois University, for believing in and supporting my efforts. 4 Introduction In the category of rituals, annual public celebrations in accordance with the ecclesiastic calendar have generally not been called to the attention of anthropologists on a descriptive level. Such rituals have been paid little attention, probably because the predominantly Catholic ambiance seems quite distinct to say, studies of pre-Colombian or African rituals.