Author Archives: Jocelyn Torres

Game – United States of America

Nationality: Mexican - American
Age: 11
Occupation: Student
Residence: Las Vegas, NV
Performance Date: April 21, 2008
Primary Language: Spanish
Language: English

Crack the Egg

This game is played on trampolines or moon bouncers. One person volunteers to be the egg. The egg must sit down in the center and wrap his arms around his knees. The rest must try to crack the egg by jumping around it. The egg is cracked when the arms and the knees are no longer together.

Ricardo learned this game from his cousins. This game is a contest or competition to see who is better. This is determined by the amount of time a person lasts without being cracked. Thus, every player must be the egg at some time.

This game is extremely funny to watch. Being in a circular shape, the egg bounces all over the place. In addition, the game is a innocent way of resolving disputes between them.

Game – United States of America

Nationality: Mexican-American
Age: 11
Occupation: Student
Residence: Las Vegas, NV
Performance Date: April 21, 2008
Primary Language: Spanish
Language: English

Tag

The group begins playing tag by saying “not it”. Who ever is the last to say this is the person who must chase after the rest. The one who is “it” must run around and try to tag someone. Once a person is tagged then he/she must run and try to tag someone else. The game goes on and on until the players decide to stop it.

According to Ricardo, tag is usually played in school during recess. He says that he plays the game because it is lots of fun. He learned how to play from his cousins who played the game too.

I believe that the game is popular among school children because the rules are easy to understand and simple to follow. It is a game which children of all ages can play, and is a way for kids to run around without getting in trouble.

Reference:

Newell, William Wells. Games and Songs of American Children. Harper & Brothers, 1903. p.158-9

Recipe – Mexico

Nationality: Mexican
Age: 38
Occupation: Secretary
Residence: Las Vegas, NV
Performance Date: MArch 27, 2008
Primary Language: Spanish
Language: English

Capirotada

This is a food made only during lent and is eaten on every Friday during this time, including Good Friday. It was a part of seven dishes made. Veronica does not know what the other dishes were, but believes they must have not been so good since they are no longer made. This specific dish was made because it does not have meat, which Catholics are not allowed to eat on Fridays of lent.

The recipe: (serves six people)

Ingredients:
4 bolillos(like French bread) in pieces

1 piloncillo(unrefined brown sugar cone)

1 slice of cinnamon

Pepper (unrefined)

1 clove

1 laurel leaf

3 tomatillos

A piece of onion

Colored pills (chochitos de colores)

Shredded cheese

Walnuts

Shredded coco

Peanuts

Vegetable Oil

Butter
Fry the bolillos in the oil and put them aside so that they do not become hard. In a liter of water add the piloncillo, cinnamon, clove, pepper, laurel leaf, and the 3 tomatillos. Let this come to a boil then turn it off. In a separate pot, add the butter and the bolillos along with the walnuts, peanuts, colored pills, coco, and cheese. Then add only the water from the previous mixture. Let the mix heat on a low fire until everything has been incorporated well and the cheese has melted a bit.

Veronica makes this every lent, and enjoys eating it. She learned the recipe from her mother, who learned it from hers. I have tried this and did not like it, partly because I do not like soggy bread and because the ingredients all have a very defining taste. The recipe itself seems unclear and hard to follow, reason that leads me to believe that it can only be learned if it is taught to you by someone.

Religious Tradition – Mexico

Nationality: Mexican
Age: 38
Occupation: Secretary
Residence: Las Vegas, NV
Performance Date: March 27, 2008
Primary Language: Spanish
Language: English

Las Posadas, which literally means the inns, has know come to be known as the Christmas parties. These parties are celebrated nine days before Christmas. One party is thrown every day at different houses. These houses represent the inns Mary and Joseph went to when looking for a place to stay in Bethlehem. The celebration begins with a replication of Mary and Joseph’s journey. A song is sung by the people present. Half of the people stay inside, they represent the inn keepers, and the other half which stays outside of the house represent the pregnant Mary and Joseph. Usually, a man and a woman are asked to be Mary and Joseph. They get to dress up as them. The outside crowd knocks at the door and sings the following:

Los de afuera: En el nombre del cielo, os pido posada pues no puede andar mi esposa amada.

People outside: In the name of heaven, we ask to lodge since my beloved wife can no longer continue.

Los de adentro: Aqui no es meson sigan adelante yo no puedo abrir no sea algun tunante.

People inside: This is not an inn continue on I cannot open you could be some kind of mischief.

Afuera: No seas inhumano dejanos entrar que el Dios del cielo os lo premiara.

Outside: Do not be inhumane let us in. God will reward you.
Adentro: Ya se pueden ir y no molestar porque si me enfado los voy a apalear.

Inside: You can leave and no longer bother us because if I become annoyed I will beat you both.

Afuera: Venimos rendidos desde Nazaret yo soy carpintero de nombre Jose.

Outside: We come exhausted from Nazareth. I am a carpenter by the name of Joseph.

Adentro: No me importa el nombre dejenme dormir porque ya les digo que no he de abrir.

Inside: I do not care about the name. Let me sleep because I have already told you that I will not open.

Afuera: Posada te pide amado casero solo por la noche la Reina del cielo.

Outside: The Queen of heaven asks you beloved landlord to stay only for the night.

Adentro: Pues si es la reina quien lo solicita, como es que de noche anda tan solita?

Inside: If it is the queen who is asking, how is it that she is out at night by herself?

Afuera: Mi esposa es Maria, es reina del cielo y madre va a ser del Divino Verbo.

Outside: My wife is Mary, she is the queen of heaven and she will be the mother of the Divine Truth.

Adentro: Eres tu Jose, tu esposa es Maria entren peregrinos no los conocia.

Inside: It is you Joseph and your wife Mary enter pilgrims I did not recognize you.
Afuera: Dios pague senores vuestra caridad y os colme el cielo de felicidad.

Outside: God pay your charity and fill heaven with happiness.
Adentro: Dichosa la casa que alberga este dia a la Virgen Pura la hermosa Maria!

Inside: Holy is the home that houses on this day the Pure Virgin, the beautiful Mary!

Entren santos peregrinos,reciban este rincon y aunque es pobre la morada se las doy de corazon.

Enter holy pilgrims, receive this corner and although the dwelling is poor I offer it to you out of the kindness of my heart.

The people who were outside representing Mary and Joseph enter the home, and inside a huge party is waiting for them. There is food and drinks for everyone. There are two drinks which are only made and drank during this time. One is called Ponche, a warm fruit drink, and Champurrado. A drink similar to hot chocolate yet is denser and contains a lot more ingredients. The food served is decided by the person hosting the party. At the end of the party all the guests receive a bolo, a bag that contains an orange, peanuts, sugar cane, and candy. On the ninth day the celebration changes, each family celebrates in each of their homes. At midnight the Jesus child is laid down in his place in the Nativity, which every family who celebrates posadas has.

The whole celebration is a re-enactment of what is thought to have occurred when Jesus was born. The celebration thus ends when Jesus is finally born and laid in the manger. The ingredients for the drinks and the gift bag are typical of the season. Certain ingredients, for instance, the sugar cane are only seen during Christmas time. The drinks are served hot because it is winter during this season.

Veronica grew up practicing this tradition in Mexico City. She learned the recitation and how to make the drinks through practice. She no longer takes part in the celebration because it is not popular in the city where she currently lives, although she still makes ponche, champurrado, and bolos.

I actually took part in one of these re-enactments in a church in Las Vegas, NV. It was only one night as opposed to the nine nights, but I did sing the song above. I also drank ponche, which I did not like, and champurrado, which I loved. At the end I got a goody bag with candies, peanuts, and an orange, yet did not get a sugar cane.

Proverb – Mexico

Nationality: Mexican
Age: 38
Occupation: Secretary
Residence: Las Vegas, NV
Performance Date: March 27, 2008
Primary Language: Spanish
Language: English

Lo que más has de odiar, en tu casa lo has de tener.

That which you hate the most, in your house you will have.

Veronica told me that she learned this proverb from her mother and other older family members in Mexico D.F., Mexico. I asked her to give me an example of when the proverb could be used and she said this: if you hate those who burp and your son burps everyday then someone might mention this proverb. Burping is that which you hate the most and burping lives in your house.

I’ve heard her use this proverb often around the house and so I was curious as to why she liked it so much. I asked her why she used this proverb and she told me that she used at many times because it is applicable to many life situations. People hate many different things and almost everyone has something in their house which they wished was not there. She also told me that she liked it because she could relate to it.

I agree with her interpretation of the proverb. I think it is about having something whether it is a person, thing, or idea in your house which you dislike. Although, I also think that it is more about something one dislikes and cannot get rid of. Using her example, a person could get rid of anyone else who burps but being that it is your son it becomes more difficult to get rid off.