Known far and wide as the "World's Largest Matanza," this annual event returned on Saturday after a two-year pandemic pause with its celebration of Hispanic food, family, culture and community — especially foodFor the $20 entrance fee (free for 10 and under), attendees could consume to their hearts' delight while also enjoying live and recorded music — and each others' company — throughout the morning and early afternoon.The word "matanza" refers to the killing and consumption of a large porcine animal, but for centuries it has meant much more. In Belen, it started with gatherings of family and friends, then, over time, grew into a large fundraising event for the Hispano Chamber of Valencia County's scholarship program.An initial tally of the day's proceeds totaled just over $50,000, with credit card revenue still to be counted.This year, 12 food-preparation teams competed in nine categories. The Rio Grande Matanzeros were named the 2023 Grand Champion, and they also were winners of the People's Choice Award, voted on by those who came to eat.One of those was Albert Bibiano, who grew up in Belen, then moved to California before returning home and attending this year's Mantanza."It's just unbelievable," Bibiano said. "If you're not here, you're really missing out on something."For him and others, it also stirred memories from years past."It's something I grew up with. When I was young and small, we used to go over to my grandmother's and do something like this. Everybody was coming, it was a family affair, and friends, but never in my life did I ever expect to see something like this," he said.He's shared those memories with other Belen friends and family members. "We sit down and tell about what was going on, and our parents and stuff, and our aunts, and our grandparents and all the stuff they did. And it was fun, and all the family would come in the morning and the afternoon, and the ladies would come and bring all kinds of food," he said.And one more thing, he said with a grin. "Me and my cousin used to fight over the tail. We loved the tail on the pig — it was weird."