For a lot of people across Mexico, Saturday night was a time for catharsis. Traditionally, the predominantly Catholic state burns figures representing Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' apostles who sold out his leader for 30 pieces of silver on the night before Easter. Since the tradition allows different symbols of the fallen disciple, it became rather common for Mexicans to burn effigies that symbolized politicians and other enemies of Mexico.
This year, the target of the tradition became Republican front-runner Donald Trump. Since announcing his intentions to run for the presidency of the United States, Trump has made it a point to target Mexico, and Mexicans in general, for much of the misfortune that has befallen the U.S. as of late.
Considering his statements seemed specifically designed to aggravate a whole country that lies literally beside America, it comes as no surprise that several Trump effigies were burned across Mexico as the chosen "Judas" of numerous communities.
Leonardo Linares, an artisan whose family is known as one of the most popular creators of the effigies that are burned for the Easter celebration, said that since Trump started attacking Mexico, he immediately knew that Trump would be a popular "Judas" for this year's celebration.
"Donald Trump's anti-Mexican comments made him an ideal candidate for Judas," he said. "With all of the stupid things he has said about Mexicans, I thought people would like to see him burning as Judas. For Latinos here and in the U.S., he's a danger, a real threat. He's a good man to burn as a Judas."
Indeed, Linares' predictions were right. On Saturday night, hundreds of revelers in his community flocked in order to watch Trump burn. Along with Trump were other effigies representing the Judases of Mexico, such as U.S. President Barack Obama and an Islamic State terrorist.
Almost poetically, the effigies of the notable Judases burned in character, with the ISIS-themed effigy going out in one explosive blast, President Obama's effigy refusing to burn and Donald Trump's figure burning in a slow and painful manner, each limb flying off one-by-one. As Trump's effigy's head exploded in the grand finale, the sound of the gunpowder was rivaled only by the sound of people cheering.
Trump has become a common target for jokes, satires and other attacks in the Latin American country. Cartoons, memes, and piñatas featuring the Republican front-runner have become common across the country. Satirical plays, folk songs and even games have poked fun at Trump's character.
Alberto Rueda, one of the revelers who watched the burning of Trump's effigy, expressed his discontent at the presidential candidate. "He's crazy. His ideas are not the solution; on the contrary. If he builds a wall, people will build tunnels," he said.
