Author Archives: andresir

La Danza a la Santa Cruz

Every year, around late April or early May, my family both those in Mexico and the ones here in the U.S. host a dance celebration. It’s purpose it to commemorate the Holy Cross (as we are Catholic) and do so by dancing. Many members of my family dress up in red skirts and white shirts decorated with sequins and layers of thin, hollow wooden tubes to make sound as they dance. They also wear huaraches and hats adorned with ribbons and paper flowers. The ceremony begins during daytime mass in which dancers march into the church and then we hear mass. Later on we gather at a ranch nearby where the dancing continues, now with food all around and the place decorated with papel picado. The dance is led by the music of a single violin and the metal sonajas that follow the violin’s rhythm. the dancers are formed from tallest to shortest. The dancing lasts all evening until dawn with small breaks in between. During the breaks, “morenos” (people in costumes and masks who also dance) put on silly productions. Also during the breaks, other dances are put on until the main one resumes. Those who aren’t dancing typically sit around the dancers to talk and gossip, eat food, or simply observe the dancers. At the front of the dancing area, there is an make-shift alter. Here, candles are lit and images of saints and holy figures are on display along with the most important aspect: a human-sized cross decorated with flowers. People take turns holding up the cross all night.

This celebration has been a part of my family for over 120 years where it was originally held only in Mexico. Family here in the U.S. often make a visit to Mexico in order to celebrate over there. It’s roots are based in religious devotion and especially in Latin America, devotion is done in a variety of ways and often to different people/things. In this case, it’s the holy cross, a highly revered symbol in Christianity.

These celebrations are more personal to my family than they are a widespread national or even local thing like many other religious celebrations. I’ve only ever heard of another group of people doing something similar to this and they usual wear blue instead of red and come from another town in Mexico near where my family comes from. Having spent every year, especially my childhood years seeing this family tradition, I’ve felt so in touch with my Mexican roots as it means getting to be a part of something so unique and personal although I myself never got the hang of the dancing part. People like my dad and uncles show extreme pride and devotion towards this celebration as I’ve noticed that it not only signifies their pride within national or religious identity, but also within their family itself.

Fiestas de Enero (Festivities of January)

In the small town in Mexico from where my family’s from, the people there beginning preparing for a nine day festival shortly after new years. The celebration is in honor of the Virgin Mary. During this time, the town holds a number of productions such as a competition to elect a “queen” in order to raise money for the church and the celebrations. Kiosks selling food, toys, and many other things are set up near and around the town square and every night for those nine days, many gather to listen to musicians, eat, shop, and witness fireworks outside the church. Games and fair rides are also set up such as loteria and go-carts. During the final night of the festivities, a grand procession occurs in the town square where the queen is announced and people dance, party, and drink all night.

These festivities are an annual thing that people my family and I look forward to every year. They symbolize a very fun part of our culture and community that brings people closer together just to have a good time whilst also helping out our community with money we spend.

These festivities are one of the many things that make me enjoy Mexico. Going out for a good round of loteria followed by good food, buying a toy, and enjoying the loud music whilst throwing confetti around are certainly core memories from my childhood.

A Small Town Pilgrimage

My family travel to Mexico during the winter to see our extended family, partake in the festivities, but specifically to my mother to make a “pilgrimage”. Every year in January, a parade celebrating the Virgin Mary occurs, and so does a festival. This lasts nine days, but this part is more religiously focused than it is on fun and games. In the morning, people gather at the entrance of town and begin their walk to the church in the town’s center. Whilst walking, people throw confetti to decorate the large image of the Virgin which is at the forefront of the parade. The rosary is recited out loud as people pray along and hold candles. The walk ends as the people arrive at the church and the bells begin to ring loudly as the people enter the church. Mass follows after the parade.

Ceremonies like these are very special to the more religious people in the family such as my mother and my grandmother and the other ladies of the town. Not many show up to this parade as they do with the correlating night festivities, but it is still culturally significant to the communities as it defines an important aspect of Mexican national identity and its close relationship to Catholicism. At least that’s how older generations feel more so than the younger.

I myself remember holding my mom’s hands during these parades and seeing how devoted she was to these processions. I also came to regard these as integral parts as my identity as a child descending from a Mexican Catholic family.

Fiestas Patrias (Patriotic Festivals)

During the 15th and 16th days of September to commemorate Mexican Independence Day, my parents’ hometown throws a festival. Like in other festivals, they hold a competition to elect a “queen of the festival” as well as tournaments with horse races and even rooster fights. Parades also occur about the town where children and students partake in them. Well known bandas (bands) are invited to perform in the town square so that many people would want to go and dance along. Bailes folkloricos (folkloric dances) also take place with competitions between different dances from different states competing to win. Overall, people gather to dance and celebrate their nation with others.

My mom recalled these types of celebrations as a young woman when she and her family would go and see the bands and the dances. She mentioned that a these are typical traditions of small towns in Mexico. Usually local and involving song and dance with a number of competitive events.

I myself have never gotten to see these type of celebrations but my mom mentioned how they were the festival mostly centered in national pride and identity more so than others. These celebrations seemed more unique as they weren’t heavily tied to religious occasions. As the name implies, they were very patriotic and traces of these festivals are seen here in the U.S. when on these days, people drive their cars with Mexican flags waving in the back.

Coloquio (colloquium)

According to my dad’s recollections, this type of gathering was one where people did stand up comedy upon a makeshift stage. People would also put on play productions with costumes and dance around in tomfoolery. A show of fireworks would also be part of these gatherings, but after one incident involving a cousin of my dad’s where a firework failed to take off and exploded causing his death, the gatherings were discontinued.

My dad said these gatherings stopped occurring sometimes in his teen years (1970’s) after the aforementioned incident. He recalled going to some and seeing the fun people had. It was a gathering for people to be silly and enjoy comedy. He sounded sad retelling what happened to his cousin and very nostalgic as he often refers to his teen years as “the good old times” as one does.

I tried to imagine what these would have looked like and to me, I picture them like a comedy show put on in a ranch with people laughing and drinking. I could imagine the sadness people felt after the unfortunate circumstances that ended this joyous tradition.