Bless your Car in Copacobana, Bolivia
Written by Bessie on Sunday, January 04, 2009 in Bolivia
Feelin' amused
So you can bless your house, bless your baby, and apparently in Copacobana, Bolivia, you can bless your car.Feelin' amused
So I grew up with Catholic grandparents, so I'm used to the statue of Mary in the yard and crosses with palms all through the house. They would even put little saints cards and charms in their burgundy 1988 Crown Victoria, but I never saw them spray their car with champaign or light fireworks under it. Let me explain.
cars waiting to be blessed
On the coast of Lake Titicaca a long tradition exists at the Cathedral in Copacobana. (The Barry Manilow song doesn't totally apply to this town, but I did sing it the whole 6 days we were there...) Every Sunday, a looooong line of cars waits for the 2 (om maybe 2:15 or 2:30) blessing of the vehicles. Semi trailers, SUVs, VW Beetles, etc. would all line up waiting their turn to get their blessing. Apparently, Sundays were so popular, they do this EVERY day of the week. No joke.
So here's how it goes. First, you dress up your car with flowers & bows. There are dozens of stands making flower arrangements and selling decor for you, just ask one of the nice ladies.
woman wiring flowers for a hood arrangement; daughter watching her mother work the flowers
The whole family gathers around for to wait for the excitement to start with the the Priest (or sometimes a deacon). He first says a prayer over your engine.
deacon saying the Mobility prayer over the front of a van
After the prayer, he uses a white rose to spray holy water on your entire car (although you have to do your own tires), and on the heads of all your family members. He even goes inside the car.
No joke, people really throw lit fireworks under the back of their cars to add the last BANG! to the cermony. I imagine it must really summon the Holy Spirit to throw a Black Cat firework under your car. People standing a few feet away would turn and run for cover. Babies cried. It was spiritual.
Cars Blessed and hanging out; Oh, and you can also have the incense ball flung through your car.
waiting for the camera in front of their blessed semi-trailer; payment & hand shake with the Priest
Comments on "Bless your Car in Copacobana, Bolivia"
It was a really cool thing to be in the middle of. Maybe the priests would be willing to do some special name baptisms if you drove all the way down from Mokena. :)
Car blessings are certainly something you don't see everyday, except in Copacobana...
Nothing like that smell of stale beer in front of a church the next morning. Mmmm, mmm - I can almost smell it. A Beavis and Butthead fan will surely love Cholita wrestling in La Paz - not to be missed if you are in town on the right day.
The White Sox hat really adds some authenticity to this amazing event...they do this every day? How often can one get their car blessed?!? I can imagine once is not enough...it looks really fun, though I would probably want to drink that beer instead of spray it on my now-holy car....
Sadly, the beer is actually better for spraying than drinking.
You know....I'm beginning to think that we Americans just do not know how to have fun. Picnics, professional theater productions, Nascar races, swims at the beach, Taste of Chicago, impeaching our governor......I thought we had it all. Now, that I know that we are missing this meaningful expressions of car reverence, our General Motors vehicles must be honored. I need to get busy fashioning a garland of appropriate flowers, at my earliest convenience, to be saved for the appropriate moment of presentation. I will reserve the champagne "toast" for dad to arrange. :)) So glad you didn't miss Copacobana!
W O W... This is an event I can genuinely say: I wish I had been with you guys to experience this day! My kind of party! Such beautiful weather!
by DADDIO at January 09, 2009 08:01 PMAnd may The Lord Bless the memory of David Dunbar Buick while we are at it. I wish I had driven up there in the Crimson King or the Golden Lady as our cars are fondly named and blessed back here in the USA.
Wonderful photo collection! Stay very happy........