Houndish Mass in Nicaragua

10 Mar 08

Hoards of hounds, many of them dressed up in a variety of costumes, were taken to celebrate mass in Masaya, Nicaragua yesterday. The hounds’ mass is an annual ritual where two-leggeds bring their four-leggeds to church to pray for good health and happiness. Awoof!

A long queue of Catholics waited patiently for their turn to pass by an image of saint san Lazaro in a tiny church in this town 20 miles to the south of the Nicaragua capital, Managua. The town’s priest always conducts a special canine mass - bless him!

The faithful thank the saint for curing their pets or ask for the dogs to be protected from illness. Nora Espinosa brought her six-month old Basset Hound (dressed in a soccer outfit) to pray that he doesn’t get sick.

Locals say the tradition goes back to the colonial period after the Spanish conquest.

SuperWoof to Nicaraguan hounds!

Archie