Category Archives: Customs

Customs, conventions, and traditions of a group

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.

Religious Tradition – Romania

Nationality: Caucasian
Age: 25
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Performance Date: April 19, 2008
Primary Language: Rumanian
Language: French, English, Spanish, Swedish

Feast of the Assumption

A major religious event takes place annually on August 15 near the Maramures village of Moisei. Villagers from around the county make pilgrimages to Moisei’s monastery for the Feast of the Assumption. Walking in village groups, sometimes for two days or more, the worshipers carry crosses and holy pictures. The majority of walkers are children and young people. In a scene reminiscent of first Communion, little girls wear pretty white dresses with white flowers, headbands or ribbons adorning their hair.

After leaving the main road, the procession continues another mile and a half up a moderately steep dirt and rock road before reaching the spacious grounds of the monastery. Most groups arrive on the 14th, so the grass is covered with clusters of people who have spread blankets out and are enjoying the chance to socialize and catch up on news from neighboring villages. Some gather in a long open-fronted shelter which has been set up for the pilgrims. Many, especially the elderly, kneel in prayer before various icons set up around the grounds. Others worship in a small wooden church, typical of the region, dating to 1672 or in a larger, modern church nearby. On the 15th, priests lead special services for the thousands who have gathered in the wooded setting.

The Feast of the Assumption celebrates the Virgin Mary assumption into heaven. Mary is considered to be pure which explains why little girls are dressed up in white dresses and the flowers in their hair. It also no coincidence that the procession ends at the top of a hill which could be assumed to be closer to Heaven.

Tradition – Italy

Nationality: Italian
Age: 38
Occupation: Professor
Residence: Venice, CA
Performance Date: April 07, 2008
Primary Language: Italian
Language: French, English, Latin, German

La Fraschetta

La Fraschetta is a winery where the peasants store their wine. It is located near huge vineyards which are famous for their white wine. The farmers keep the high quality wine in the winery, and sell the lower quality wine to the tourists.  This wine cellar is opened at night to the public and wooden seats and tables are set up. Families bring their own food and drink the wine that has been stored there. These gatherings are very popular during the spring and summer because it is good weather for being outside. They are a place for socialization.  Those who work in the vineyards get to meet others who work in the same industry.

Like many other traditions, this Italian tradition has been picked up by tourists. In the beginning, the winery was only opened to those who worked in the vineyards. It was an attraction for those in the social lower class who did not have much money to spend on fancy gatherings. Recently, according to Francesca, this has become a tourist attraction. One thing has not changed; tourists are still given the bad wine.

I found it interesting that music was not present at this social event. It seems that the majority of social traditions have some kind of music involved. It was also interesting that Francesca, who attended on of these gatherings when she lived in Frascati, said that the event was bizarre. From the way she described the gathering I do not see what is so bizarre about it. I will most likely not find out until I attend one of these gatherings myself.

Wedding Ritual/Religious Folklore – Mexico

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

Esposo: (nombre de la esposa)recibe estas arras como prenda del cuidado que tendre de que no falte lo necesario en nuestro hogar.

Groom: (Name of the Bride) Take these coins as a guarantee of the care I will have to make sure that everything necessary will be not be missing from our home.

Esposa: Yo las recibo en senal del cuidado que tendre de que todo se aproveche en nuestro hogar.

Bride: I receive these coins as a sign of the care I will have to make sure that everything is taken advantage of in our home.

The thirteen coins which are called arras are exchanged between the bride and groom during the recitation of the promises shown above. The first twelve coins represent each month of the year and the last or thirteenth coin represents the poor. This exchange of coins is only performed during marriage ceremonies in Catholic Churches specifically those in Mexico and has recently appeared in the U.S. due to the large amount of immigrants arriving from south of the border.

Veronica told me that she believes the exchange of the coins signify the financial responsibilities both share. She also believes the tradition is carried on because it helps make the couple conscious of the economic hardships they might face. She herself performed this exchange during her wedding in the late 1980s in Mexico.

I knew about this tradition, but I was never aware of what the act represented. I had an idea that it was related to money, but did not know much else. I do agree with Veronica’s interpretation of what the coins represent and the purpose they serve. I feel as though this tradition is slowly disappearing in the U.S. especially because it is only performed when requested by the bride or groom, and because religious wedding have become less popular.

Reference:

Williams, Norma. The Mexican American Family: Tradition and Change. New York: General Hall, 1990. p.31

Tradition – Pamplona, Spain

Nationality: Spanish
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: Pamplona, Spain
Performance Date: April 06, 2008
Primary Language: English
Language: Spanish

Tradition: Running of the Bulls

Pablo’s Description:

“Well to me, the running of the bulls is very important because it happens in my hometown. It’s something that I’ve been growing up with and it is very interesting to see how it has developed since I was three or four years old. It’s become a tourist attraction now as we have over twenty thousand Americans that come over to party because it has become more of a party thing. It is a party scene but is also traditional as there is folklore behind it. The actual running of the bulls comes from when my city was founded by the Romans. They constructed the city on the basis of a hill with streets leading up into the central area. That way, for generations to come they had the cathedral and important buildings in the center of the city. The bull arena is right there next to everything else. Back in the 19th century, whenever we would have a bull fight, they would have to carry the bulls from the river all the way up the hill to the arena. The shepherds would bring the bulls, because bulls are not aggressive as we think they are; they don’t just go attack people until they feel threatened. But, people started running in front of them and it became a more fun and growing tradition. Then, the city decided it was too big to do spontaneously so they actually determined a road that the run will follow, which became more popular. Hemingway came over from America and increased its popularity to Americans, which is why it has become a large party for everyone. It’s a traditional event for me to remember our history but it has become a drinking event for most.”

When I asked Pablo about the running of the bulls, he described to me the history and the folklore behind it. He explained how it originated and the tradition it has built ever since. According to him, the events take place from the sixth of July until the fourteenth. Since he was little, he always went to the festivals and took part in all of the activities. He takes part in the running now as he is older and says that he plans to continue to do it each year. When I asked Pablo to describe the festival, he told me that it was basically a twenty four hour party with tourists drinking all throughout the night. He said there is traditional folk music that is played along with many folk dances to entertain everyone. There are lights and people everywhere as everyone takes place in this festival.

To Pablo, the running of the bulls is really special to him because it symbolizes a lot of history and the memories he has of his city. He said that he gets really sad whenever he can not attend the running and hopes that he is able to go this year. It represents a lot of Spanish culture as the festivals as well as the running of the bulls show the various traditions of Spain. This event has grown so much that over two million people annually attend the running of the bulls.

I agree with Pablo in the sense that the running of the bulls represents Spanish culture. It shows how their folklore helped construct the foundation of a city as well as a country. The event brings the country as well as others together to take part in the running. Although I believe there is great tradition involved with the event, I think it has become more of a party scene where thousands of people are socializing during the week. However, the folklore is important to the people who live in the community like Pablo and it shows with all the great memories they have from it.