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A man rides a bull during events celebrating Santa Ana in Nandaime, Nicaragua, July 27, 2013.
Nandaime puts on a big show for two weeks every year to honor its patron saint, Santa Ana, or Saint Anne, the mother of the Virgin Mary.
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A woman dressed as a man, right, dances with a man dressed as a woman during "El Cartel" as part of celebrations honoring Santa Ana, in Nandaime, July 28, 2013.
The "El Cartel" is an unusual feature of the celebration, where the boys and men of Nandaime show up wearing women's clothes and makeup. This year, at least one young woman came as a man, complete with tie, hat and painted-on beard.
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A man runs carrying a "Toro Encuetado" in the shape of a bull during a procession in Nandaime, July 30, 2013.
During Santa Ana, men careen through town with cardboard bulls popping and flashing with fireworks during celebrations to give thanks to Saint Anne, the mother of the Virgin Mary.
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A boy dressed as a bride is lifted by the crowd after winning first place in the costume contest at the "El Cartel" event in Nandaime, July 28, 2013.
Residents say the cross-dressing tradition originated with a resident who sponsored the first "El Cartel" years ago to offer music and dancing to thank Saint Anne for healing his seriously ill wife. Some of the people hired for the party offered to dress as a woman in honor of the healed woman.
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A man dressed as a women with tattoos of Jesus and a dog on his back dances during "El Cartel" in Nandaime, July 28, 2013.
Esteban Felix/AP
Alexander Larios, 10, dressed as a girl, celebrates winning fourth place in the costume contest at the "El Cartel" event, July 28, 2013.
Esteban Felix/AP
A man stands on a fence at the bullring during celebrations honoring Santa Ana in Nandaime, July 27, 2013.
Esteban Felix/AP
Alexander Larios, 10, gets his hair styled by his mother, Karen Cruz, outside their home as he dresses up for the "El Cartel" event, July 28, 2013.
"I do it because my grandmother Mary asked me to, because she cannot get out. She's sick with cancer and cannot dance to Santa Ana," Larios said.
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A boy watches people at the "El Cartel" event as he stands in front of a circus tent during celebrations honoring Santa Ana, July 28, 2013.
Esteban Felix/AP
A man sleeps on the stands of the bull ring along side musical instruments that will be played during celebrations honoring Santa Ana, July 27, 2013.
Esteban Felix/AP
A bull wearing flower wreaths around its neck is paraded through town by horsemen, a tradition called "Toro Coronado," or "Crowned Bull," during festivities honoring Santa Ana, July 27, 2013.
Esteban Felix/AP
Alexander Larios, 10, gets mascara applied by his mother outside their home as he dresses up as a girl for the "El Cartel" event in honor of Santa Ana, July 28, 2013.
Esteban Felix/AP
Alexander Larios, 10, and a man, both dressed as women, dance at the "El Cartel" during celebrations honoring Santa Ana, July 28, 2013.
Esteban Felix/AP
Pendants hang on the robe of Santa Ana as her statue is paraded through the town, July 27, 2013.
People thanked the saint for answered prayers by pinning pendants of body parts, animals and other things on her robe.
Esteban Felix/AP
Catholics carry statues of Santa Ana holding baby Mary, and Saint Anne's husband Joaquin, behind, in Nandaime, Nicaragua, July 30, 2013.
