Piñatas

Photo courtesy of Zé Eduardo.

Piñatas are popular the world over, especially as part of children's birthday celebrations.  But they have a long history, and in Mexico and Spain they are associated with religious celebrations - Lent and Christmas in particular.  In Spain a costume ball is held on the first Sunday in Lent - el baile de Piñatas - that ends with breaking a piñata.

The donkey is a classic piñata figure.

Like everything with a possible Asian origin, piñatas are said to have been brought to Europe by Marco Polo, perhaps the most amazing man in world history for the ever-increasing number of things he introduced.  The Chinese were said to use decorated clay pots filled with goodies during their Spring Festival, i.e. New Year celebrations.  When broken, seeds spilled out - apropos for a spring ritual -  then afterward what remained was burned and the ashes gathered for good luck throughout the year.

The original piñatas in Mexico and Spain were made from clay pots that were decorated.  The custom of beating them in order to break them open is thought to have begun in Italy.  The Spanish word piñata seems to come from the Italian word pignatta which was a squat clay pot shaped like a pinecone or pigna in Italian.  The Spanish used the word piña or pinecone.  The Latin word from whence both the Italian and Spanish words are derived is pinea (pinecone), from the pinus, or pine tree.

You can get directions to make your own taco piñata here.

The native peoples of Mexico, including the Aztecs and Mayans, also made clay pots, interestingly enough, although these were in the shape of their gods.  They were adorned with colored feathers and hung, sometimes in temples, and filled with beads, painted or colored rocks, berries and nuts.  When the piñata was broken and these items spilled out they were considered gifts from that god.  The Mayans played a game where the person striking at the piñata was blindfolded while he tried to hit it.

Food piñatas photo courtesy of EPA/Alex Cruz.

When the Spanish brought the piñata practice to Mexico it was readily accepted since it was a familiar concept.  But in the 16th century, the Spanish missionaries used the piñata to reach converts.  Cleverly, they made them in the shape of a globe with seven cones coming off it, and this is the standard type of piñata still today.

The classic seven-coned sphere piñata.

The central sphere represents the devil, and the seven cones signify the seven deadly sins:  anger, envy, greed, gluttony, lust, pride, and sloth.  They taught that the blindfolding signified faith, the stick used for beating was the will to overcome sin, and the goodies inside were the treasures of heaven (like the gifts from the gods).  The subtle message the friars were sending was that faith and intention could overcome sin, and with them one could receive the rewards of heaven.

There is a traditional song that is sung while swinging at the piñata, of which the following is one variation:

Dale!  Dale!  Dale!

No pierdas eltino,

Porque si lo pierdes,

Pierdes el camino,

Esta piñata es de muchas mañas,

Solor contiene naranjas y cañas.

Give it a hit!  Give it a hit!  Give it a hit!

Don't lose your aim,

Because if you lose it,

You will lose your way,

This piñata is wily,

But it only contains oranges and sugar cane.

Although the traditional shape is still the sphere with seven cones, today one can find a wide variety of shapes, including caricatures of popular figures and celebrities:

It's very interesting that the New World had a tradition similar to the Old World before they interacted.  It is also very interesting that this tradition has not only endured throughout the centuries, but has become popular internationally.  Maybe there's still hope for world peace - no, wait, the commonality was beating with sticks, as is the popularity.  Oh, well.....

***************

Unless otherwise noted, images courtesy of piñatas.com.

*******************************

Mariachi, a Folk Music of Mexico

Image courtesy of Señor Codo/Wikipedia.

Mariachi is music native to Mexico, mainly associated with Jalisco, but also the western states of Nayarit, Zacatecas, Aguacalientes, Guanajuato, Michoacán, and Colima.  Its exact birthplace is unknown, as early Mexican folk music was not documented.

In 1519 professional Spanish musicians accompanied Hernán Cortés when he arrived in Mexico.  The native population already had their own musical style, to which they added the European influence.  Later in the colonial period, black slaves brought music from Africa which further enhanced the style.

Image courtesy of Guillame Corport Muller/Wikipedia.

Traditional mariachi songs are typically love songs, either happy or sad.  But mariachi is now interacting with other mainstream genres, and it's not uncommon to hear a type of mariachi/pop or other fusion.  It is important in the study of Mexican music as it has become an emblematic form reflected in popular radio, the first Mexican films, and now globally.

The original mariachi were street musicians or buskers.  They wore peasant garb and had no concern for presenting a group appearance.  In the early 1900s groups began to wear modest uniforms.  Eventually the chosen dress was tight and ornamented pants, short jackets, embroidered belts, wide bow ties, boots, and sombreros.  These were the clothes of a traje de charro, a horseman or wealthy hacienda owner.  There are other types of street performers:  Jarochos (from Veracruz) or norteño bands from the northern states.  Groups that include accordions among their instruments are tejano.

Image courtesy of Gerardo Gonzalez/Wikipedia.

The instrumentation has changed over time.  Circa 1900 it was common that a group had four musicians, and the instruments used varied among groups and regions.  In central Jalisco there may have been two violins, a vihuela (a small instrument similar to a guitar with five strings and a convex back), and a guitarrón (like a vihuela but larger with six strings - kind of a cross between a guitar and an upright bass).  In southern Jalisco and Michoacán more likely two violins, a harp, and a guitarra de golpe were used.

After 1910 groups became bigger, and more instruments were used and in more numbers.  The use of the guitarra de golpe and the harp lessened and the modern classical guitar was adopted.  Wind instruments were added, such as the trumpet. Today the common instrumentation is three to six violins, two trumpets, a vihuela, guitars, and guitarrons.  All of the members of the group may sing.

Mariachi Torrez, image courtesy of www.talentbookingusa.com.

There's long been a rumor that the name came from the French word for "marriage".  In the 1860s, the French occupied Mexico.  Legend has it that during this time some French soldiers investigated the noise coming from a wedding party.  Asked what was going on, the Mexican guests shouted "c'est une mariage" ("it's a marriage") but with their Mexican accent it sounded like "mariachi".  This is a nice story, but untrue.  The first written documentation was in a letter by a priest, Cosme Santa Anna, in 1852.  Since the word and the musical group predate the French occupation, the phonetic similarity is coincidental.  Scholars agree the word comes from an indigenous language but differ on which one.  Some think it's from the Coca people of Jalisco, others believe it's from a tree in the Cora language of Nayarit (the wood from which may have served as a platform or stage for the players).  

Mariachi in Guadalajar, Jalisco, Mexico.  Image courtesy of Gerardo Gonzalez/Wikipedia.

The best mariachi groups have eleven or more members, all well-trained.  At the other end are groups with seven or less members, little or no formal training, who wander offering their services.  Most groups are in between.  Mariachi Vargas is the gold standard of mariachis, begun in 1898 by Gaspar Vargas, and taken over by his son Silvestre, considered by many to be the greatest mariachi of all time. 

Mexico City became the center of mariachi music in Mexico.  Likewise, Los Angeles is the urban mecca for mariachi in the United States.  The famous mariachi group Los Comperos founded their own supper club in Los Angeles, La Fonda.  This was the world's first venue to showcase mariachi.  The Los Angeles Institute of Ethnomusicology at UCLA organized Mariachi Uclatlán, the first effort in the academic study of mariachi.  Today educational institutions in the Southwest offer classes in mariachi music.

A mariachi band in Zapata, Texas.  Image courtesy of Billy Hathorn/Wikipedia.

Since the 1940s there have been a number of all-female groups, and mariachi groups of mixed gender are common today, especially in the United States.  Groups are expected to play songs upon request and some groups have 1,000 or more songs in their repertoire.  Since little written music is available, it has to be learned by ear and memorized.

Image courtesy www.lacountyarts.com.

One traditional aspect that cannot be ignored is the grito mexicano (Mexican scream) - a yell done at specific interludes of a song by the musicians and/or the audience.  It starts with the first syllable held as long as possible, leaving enough breath for a series of trills.  Listen to the young woman below, then practice as much as possible.  Mexican music can be a scream!

*******************************

Where Men Are Men, and Men are Women

Thalia, named "Princess" the night before, waits for a parade to start.

The United States is known as the "Land of the Free", but many who live here would debate that.  In many states gays and lesbians are not allowed to marry or share the privileges of straight people.  Transvestites are often objects of ridicule or humor.  So much for freedom of expression.

Carmelo, 13, in his first appearance as a girl at an annual muxe celebration.  

Yet Mexico, which brings immediate thoughts of machismo, has a very enlightened region that not only allows freedom of expression, but respects and values it.  In Juchitán, Oaxaca, gays and transvestites live with complete tolerance.  

Alejandro, 16, is one of six children but the only muxe.

This attitude owes its legacy to the Zapotecs, who have inhabited this area for centuries and resisted domination by first the Aztecs, and then the Spanish.  In fact, anthropologists have traced the acceptance of mixed genders to pre-Columbian times and cross-dressing Aztec priests and hermaphroditic Mayan gods.  Spanish colonization and Catholicism forced changed views, but in the area around Juchitán there was a resistance to adopting these new attitudes, and mixed-gender identities and holding women in esteem endured.  In fact, many people still speak Zapotec instead of Spanish

Beth-Sua gets ready to attend a transvestite beauty pageant.

A "muxe" (pronounced "moo-shay") is a Zapotecan word for woman, derived from the Spanish "mujer".  For many families it is a blessing and considered good luck to have a gay son.  Women in general are held in such high regard that if you weren't born one the next best thing is to become one.  When a male baby is born mothers soothe one another with thoughts that perhaps he'll be gay.  Some people believe muxes have special mental and artistic gifts.

Beth-Sua enjoys a smoke at the pageant.  She represents her city's muxes,
and is a local organizer and HIV-AIDS activist.  She also embroiders huilpiles.

At least one third of all males in Juchitán are gay.  Unlike the rest of Mexico, where putos ("faggots") are targets for ridicule and abuse, in Juchitán gender is simply a matter of natural impulse.  Muxes express their identities in different ways.  Some dress as women; some take hormones and/or surgically alter their bodies; some favor traditional male demeanor.  Many just take pride in their difference preferring to be neither male or female, but just themselves.

Ninel, 23, with her parents, is one of the few muxes who has had surgical
augmentation.  She is supported by her boyfriend, who lives with her
family.  She used to work, but now stays home and tends to her
younger siblings and does the cooking.

Ninel with her boyfriend, Sebastian, 18.  They first met in Mexico City and
then moved in with Ninel's parents in Juchitán.  Sebastian did not know that
Ninel was transgender at first, but doesn't care and sees no problem with it.

Muxes are active and successful business people.  The area is famous for huipiles, hand-embroidered blouses, which many muxes are involved in making.  They own hair salons and specialize in dressing women.  Festivals and parties provide business opportunities as well.  Some muxes have quinceañeras, the traditional Latin American coming-of-age celebrations of a young woman's 15th birthday (another Aztec tradition).  The muxes have their own celebration called "The Party of the Authentic Intrepid Ones Who Search for Danger",  "The Intrepid Ones" being what gays in Juchitán call themselves.  Every November there is a festival that attracts people from all over the world.

Mistica, 30 is popular and well-known.  She is considered an astute
businesswoman who has a cosmetics business.

This region is a haven for those who relish blurring gender roles, and where the tradition of doing so goes back in time.  Here you are free to be male, female, or the best of both worlds.

***************

Photos courtesy of Katie Orlinsky for the NY Times

*******************************