La Noche Vela

The Noche Vela is a Catholic thing around here that I don´t entirely understand because we seem to have at least one if not more every week and there doesn´t seem to be any rhyme or reason to what day or time they begin. They usually begin with a procession with lots of crosses and flags with crosses, pictures of Marie and Jesus, and singing. i.e. as in this video



They are usually followed by gathering at a spot and playing palos (which are these big drums). There is apparently a dance that goes along with it, but I haven´t been able to see it well because everyone crowds in close around the drummers and dances. Here´s what the palos looks and sounds like.




As the evening wears on in most cases the music moves from the palos to the pirico ripiao which is pretty cool. It´s an accordion, a small drum, a big drum, and one of those little cheese grater looking things that you scrape. Everyone from the very young to the very old dances. There´s usually rum or clerin (homemade rum made from sugar cane) being passed around. Sometimes the party lasts all night. Although I´ve never made it that late! Here´s some videos and pictures of the perico ripiao and the noche vela.