Video: Mexican mayor marries crocodile in bizarre traditional ceremony

In a traditional ceremony dating back hundreds of years, a Mexican mayor married a crocodile to bring good luck to the town he leads.

Mayor Victor Aguilar's bride, a reptile is dressed in white, with a floral crown. Before the ceremony, she is paraded on the streets of San Pedro Huamelula, in southern Mexico, CNN reported.

The tradition has been practiced by the Chontal Indians since 1789. Their marriage symbolizes the union between two indigenous groups called the Chontales and the Huaves. During pre-Hispanic times, these two groups lived in conflict when the Huaves came to the Chontales' land on the Pacific Coast, according to news agency EFE.

Both groups believed they held the power to bring good luck to the harvest. Legend has it, the dispute ended when the king of the Chontales's son fell in love with the king of the Huales' daughter and married, local media reports claim.

To keep the tradition going in this day and age, the mayor represents the prince and the reptile represents the princess. “With this ritual we ask for a good harvest, for the sea and the lagoons to give us all the food we need and we ask that everything goes well with everyone here," Aguilar told the Daily Mail.

Once the ceremony has been performed, guests celebrate with music and dancing. There is even a dance between the bride and groom. The dance between the newly married is a way of thanking God for the harvest and fish, one of the guests is quoted as saying by The Sun.

The wedding is also part of the celebration honouring the town's patron saint Saint Peter.

Watch the video here: