The mayor of a small Mexican village called San Pedro Huamelula married an alligator that was wearing a wedding dress. Victor Hugo Sosa even sealed the matrimonial ceremony with a kiss as part of an age-old indigenous ritual to bring abundance to the village. The reptile is believed to be a deity representing Mother Earth and her marriage to the local leader symbolises the joining of humans with the divine.

It is said that the ceremony was part of an age-old indigenous ritual to bring abundance to the village in south-western Mexico.

The ritual marriage likely dates back centuries to pre-Hispanic times among Oaxaca state’s Chontal and Huave indigenous communities, like a prayer pleading for nature’s bounty, the Voice of America reported.

The seven-year-old reptile, referred to as Little Princess, had her mouth  tied shut, obviously to avoid unwanted snapping.

Speaking on the ritual, Mayor Sosa said: “We ask nature for enough rain, for enough food, that we have fish in the river.” Images and videos from the colourful ceremony showed the attendees in good spirits as they danced to traditional music with many imploring the indigenous leader to kiss his new bride.

Images and videos from the colourful ceremony showed the attendees in good spirits as they danced to traditional music with many imploring the indigenous leader to kiss his new bride.