Paraguayans don feathered suits in homage to saint

EMBOSCADA, Paraguay— Hundreds of Catholic parishioners in Paraguay donned birdlike costumes and paraded down the streets this week to honor a 16th-century saint said to possess miraculous powers.

The celebration in the municipality of Emboscada, some 25 miles northeast of the capital of Asuncion, paid tribute to St. Francis Solano, who was born in Spain in 1549 and died in Peru in 1610. He was canonized in 1726.

Wearing a suit made from the feathers of six hens, María Estela Pereira said she had come to show thanks.

"I suffer from arthritis and after praying four years ago to St. Francis Solano to allow me to move from one place to another without pain, he granted me a miracle," said the 52-year-old widow, a mother of 11 children.

Modesto Martínez, a parish priest in the nearby city of San Bernardino, said there was no scholarly explanation for the procession, but birds were believed to have sung to St. Francis Solano as he lay on his deathbed. “It is likely that the story, if real, has given parishioners the belief that St. Francis Solano is a protector of birds,” he said.

There is no record of the saint ever visiting Paraguay.

Pedro Balbuena, a 71-yearold chapel musician, said the modern-day tradition grew in popularity due to the work of Dominga Machuca, a villager who promoted the saint's image. But Balbuena said the feathers actually symbolize Guaicurú Indians who would attack smaller tribes and Spanish colonizers to prevent them from stealing their food and weapons.

"Since they were superstitious, the villagers disguised themselves as birds to scare them away, and that's how they stopped being bothered by them," he said.

AP Photo/Jorge Saenz ■ Farmer Genaro Servin poses Wednesday during the feast of St. Francis Solano in Emboscada, Paraguay. Hundreds of Catholic parishioners don bird-like costumes and parade down the streets to honor the saint. Birds were believed to have sung to him as he lay on his deathbed.

AP Photo/Jorge Saenz ■ Four-year-old Josia Sebastian Yegros poses for a photo Wednesday wearing his feathered costume during the feast of St. Francis Solano in Emboscada, Paraguay.

AP Photo/Jorge Saenz ■ Barber Marcelo Montiel poses for a portrait Wednesday during a Mass in honor of St. Francis Solano, in Paraguay. Montiel is paying a promise to the saint for his prompt recovery from an illness. Hundreds of Catholic parishioners wear the bird-like costumes and parade down the streets to honor the saint said to possess miraculous powers.

AP Photo/ Jorge Saenz Two-year-old Yoselin Almada walks with her mother Wednesday during a festival in Emboscada, Paraguay, honoring St. Francis Solano, who is said to possess miraculous powers.

AP Photo/Jorge Saenz ■ Agustin Armoa poses for a portrait wearing his feathered costume during a Mass Wednesday in honor of St. Francis Solano in Emboscada, Paraguay. Armoa has been a devotee for 15 years, attributing his recovery from a childhood illness to what he believes is the miraculous powers of the saint.

AP Photo/Jorge Saenz ■ Four-year-old Josia Sebastian Yegros poses for a photo wearing his feathered costume Wednesday during the feast of St. Francis Solano in Emboscada, Paraguay.