The online news reports that Selma Hayek, the Mexican-born actress, married a millionaire in Paris on Valentine's Day. No problem paying for that Mexican's wedding. But for many Mexicans, a wedding is a major money matter. One reason is that typically 500 to 1,000 attend the reception. Another is that the bureaucracy and permits are also relatively expensive.
So in 2006 the Mexican government encouraged couples to tie the knot by elminating their fees --- on Valentine's Day only! This has lead to the custom of "bodas colectivas" (collective weddings) across the country. In Cancun on this Feb 14th, hundreds of couples gathered in a zocalo (town square) for their big day. Grandparents could finally tie the knot, younger couples saved some pesos, and pairs of all ages and social classes rubbed shoulders --- and other things!
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