Paraguay feather festival
Catholics in the town of Emboscado in Paraguay pay homage to St. Francis Solano by dressing up in bird-feather suits as part of a tradition that goes back centuries. Legend has it that Guaicuru Indians used to attack smaller tribes and Spanish colonizers to steal weapons and food. As a result, some dressed in bird feathers to scare the Guaicuru away.
The festival begins with a Mass, continues with a procession of the diminutive wooden statue of St. Francis, and ends with people dancing in suits made with black, white, brown and grey feathers.
Here, Francisco Solano poses for a photo in his bird-feather suit after attending a Mass commemorating the feast day of St. Francis Solano, in Emboscada.
Paraguay feather festival
Catholic parishioners Hector Rafael Villaba, from left, Guillermo Estigarribia, and his brother Jesus, pose in their bird-feather suits during the feast day celebrations honoring St. Francisco Solano, in Emboscada, July 24, 2015.
The feast is a mix of Indian and Catholic beliefs, known by the Guarani name, "Guaicuru I nemonde", which in English translates to "Dress of the Indigenous."According to legend, smaller Indian groups would cover themselves from head to toe in bird feathers to scare off Guaicuru raiders, looking for weapons and food to steal.
Paraguay feather festival
Catholic faithful pray during a Mass marking the feast day of St. Francisco Solano, in Emboscada, July 24, 2015.
There is no record of the Spanish friar, also known as St. Francisco Solanus, but the devoted believe he is a miracle worker. While he lay dying in a Peruvian convent, the birds would sing to him, perched at his window, and that may be why pledges choose to dress in feathers on his feast day, says Father Modesto Martinez.
Paraguay feather festival
Pedro Balbuena plays the harmonica as he walks ahead of the procession marking the feast day of St. Francisco Solano in Emboscada, Paraguay, July 24, 2015.
Balbuena is seen as the chief of the feathered-ones. He says he has been organizing the dancing performance honoring St. Francis for 40 years. His group includes children, adults and the elderly. They practice for three months and they prefer to use rooster feathers for the suits, because they're more colorful.
Paraguay feather festival
Father Modesto Martinez leads a procession marking the feast day of St Francisco Solano, in Emboscada, Paraguay, July 24, 2015. Some 500 people attended the festival that includes a mix of indigenous and Guarani Indian beliefs.
Paraguay feather festival
A Catholic faithful dressed in a bird-feather suit, flies past on a chair swing ride during the feast day celebrations for St. Francisco Solano, in Emboscada, July 24, 2015.
The parish priest says the festivity became a tradition because the birthday of Francisco Solano Lopez, the son of 19th century Paraguayan President Carlos Antonio Lopez, fell on Saint Francis' feast day. The Paraguayan president served from 1841 to 1862.
Paraguay feather festival
Yessika Macarena Sanchez, 6, left, and her brother 4-year-old brother Francisco Javier, attend the celebrations marking the feast day of St. Francis Solano, in Emboscada, July 24, 2015.
Paraguay feather festival
Alfredo Ortega, dressed in his bird-feather suit, walks along a highway as he makes his way to the celebrations honoring the feast day of St. Francis Solano, in Emboscada, July 24, 2015.
Paraguay feather festival
A wooden statue depicting St. Francisco Solano is displayed at the top of a religious float during a Mass marking the saint's feast day, in Emboscada, Paraguay, July 24, 2015.
The religious festivity was held in the patio of a chapel that bears the name of the Spanish friar and South American missionary, also known as St. Francisco Solanus, who was born in Spain in 1549 and died in Peru 1610.
Paraguay feather festival
A Catholic parishioner receives Communion bread during a Mass marking the feast day of St. Francisco Solano, in Emboscada, July 24, 2015.
Bird-feather suit
Alfredo Ortega poses for a photo in his bird-feather suit after attending a Mass commemorating the feast day of St. Francis Solano, in Emboscada, July 24, 2015.
Paraguay Feather Festival
Dominga Mongelos prays during a Mass marking the feast day of St. Francisco Solano, in Emboscada, July 24, 2015.
Paraguay feather festival
Revelers dance during the feast day celebrations honoring St. Francisco Solano, in Emboscada, July 24, 2015.
Paraguay feather festival
St. Francis Solano pledge Juan Ferreira, holds a cane with a heron head handle during a Mass marking the saint's feast day, in Emboscada on July 24, 2015.