La Noche que Nadie Duerme

The night of august 14th is called la Noche que Nadie Duerme (the night that nobody sleeps) in Huamantla, Tlaxcala. As part of their fair to honor the patron virgin of the town, beginning at 8ish they cover the streets of the center with elaborate decorations made from colored sawdust and sand. Each block has its own theme or design. As the night goes on the carpets, as they are called, are eventually completed just before the procession with the virgin begins. There are also elaborate decorations of flowers and sand art at the church. Festivities literally continue the entire night and when we left at 3AM for the hour trip back to Puebla, there were still plenty fireworks and people working to complete their carpets, making rounds through the streets to view the various displays, or feasting on the abundance of food, as well as the on-going procession of the virgin.

All of the image is made from colored sand.