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| Eric's uncle Jesus Gonzalez |
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| Joaquín Durán far right, member of El Lienzo Charro, Durango circa 1934 |
Charro, the Original Cowboy
By: Eric Duran
12 April 2009
In Mexico, the charro has for many years been a symbol of masculinity, heroism, elegance and national pride. Likewise, the American cowboy represents this plus bravery and honesty. The charro dons a large hat, wears boots, and he is an excellent horseman. There are similarities with a logical explanation. Many characteristics that the American cowboy is known for has its roots in Mexico. Both have been stereotyped.
The natives of Mexico had never seen a horse before the conquistadors arrived. The Spaniards arrived on small ships and had carried with them one of their most cherished commodities, the horse. Having sailed along the Yucatan peninsula, in 1519 Hernan Cortes decided to land on the coast around where present day Veracruz is on the Gulf of Mexico. There was a mixture of awe and shock to see the strangers from Europe riding on what looked like deer, except larger. The Spaniards would eventually conquer the Indians and the horse would become an integral part of the culture, agricultural practices and hierarchy in what was to become New Spain and later Mexico.
Throughout the colonial period of 1521 to 1821 Spain had established a caste designation in Mexico. Whenever a Spanish viceroy bought or inherited land and moved to Mexico anything on the soil was deemed part of the property. This included the natives who were born and raised in what was their home. It became a law that no person who was of one hundred percent Indigenous blood could ride a horse. Anyone born in Spain living in Mexico was called a peninsular, (born on the peninsula of Iberia or Spain). When the peninsula-born had children born in Mexico they were called criollos (creoles).
Both the Spanish born and the creoles rode their horses or carriages for transportation from town to town and work on the Haciendas. This was Mexico's hierarchy with the oppressed Indian at the lowest rung of society. Yet another caste would evolve that would take all of the riding techniques and ranching practices and adapt it to the needs of this land and that would be the mestizo, (of mixed Indian and Spanish blood) from the word mestizaje , (racial mixture). First employed as ranch hands the mesitzos learned to ride, rope, brand and round up cattle.
Much of the land outside of the capital, Mexico City would become haciendas or ranch land where cattle and other livestock was raised. Today what is called El Bajio in Mexico included the deserts and plains of the central region. This became cattle country. The north was considered frontier and many brave families ventured to areas like present day south Texas which was first called Coahuila-Tejas. The Tejanos of this region were a hard working lot that worked much of the rough chaparral areas in present day Nueces County in Texas along the Nueces River and extended to the Rio Grande called El Rio Bravo in Mexico.
In 1821 and in the very month that Mexico won its independence, Stephen F. Austin had a contract with Mexico to move Americans into present-day east Texas. The term empresario was given to Austin by the Mexican government. The settlers were mostly Scots-Irish Americans and would learn the art of cattle ranching from the Tejanos and Mexicans.
Cowboy vocabulary has many Spanish derivatives like: buckaroo/vaquero, stirrups/estribos, desperado/desesperado, rodeo/rodeo, spurs/espuelas, chaps/chapareras, lariat/reata, bronco/bronco. A couple theories for the term "ten gallon hat" are one: the Tejanos wore ten hat bands or galones on their hats, second: that the galon was a type of coin of the day and that they wore them as a hat band.
The word Charro is said to be a derivative of the Basque word Txar which means country person, rustic or farmer. This term applied to horsemen from the region of Spain called Salamanca. These men wore wide brim hats and a riding jacket tailored at the waist. The Mexican adaptation took this style and made it their own.
Today the Charro is a very dynamic and important symbol of Mexican pride and culture. ¡Viva México! v
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| Jaylene and Ruby Rosario |
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| Juan Rosario watches while his daughters practice |
Mariachi Family
By: Eric Durán
23 April 2009
Seven-year-old Jayline Rosario's small fingers barely reach the strings on the neck of her guitar, a Vihuela, as she harmonizes chords with her siblings in scores of customary Mexican songs.
Jayline is one of four Everett children who perform in a Mariachi, a traditional type of Mexican musical group, and entertain crowds throughout Skagit, Snohomish and Whatcom counties. The family belongs to Mariachi Juvenil Voces de Mexico (Youth Mariachi Voices of Mexico), in which the Rosario youth follow the lead of the eldest daughter, 9-year-old Ruby, who serves as one of the musical group's vocalists and violinists.
Mariachis expose talents young and old alike to an environment that nurtures musical skills, be it singing or playing an instrument. Everett residents Juan and Rosalva Rosario are the proud parents of the young music aficionados; their home resonates with lively melodies throughout the week while the youth practice their numbers.
"Are you ready?" Ruby asked her siblings before they sang during a Saturday afternoon practice.
Ruby carries notes to songs like: "El Herradero" (The Branding), one of her favorite compositions. The youngest of the children, 5-year-old Lizbeth and 2-year-old Juanito, recently joined the Mariachi ensemble and take to the stage bouncing in harmony to the rhythm.
Adhering to a routine that they've followed for the past seven years, Juan drives his children to practice three times a week at the Familias Unidas Latino Resource Center in Everett, where Alfonso Vasquez, director of the Mariachi, teaches participating children about their art as well as Mexican heritage.
"I support them; they keep busy and they learn more," Juan said. "It's better than television."
A group of typically 16 members compose a Mariachi, which generally includes violinists, guitarists and trumpeters, Vasquez said. Most of the members join in the singing and a lead singer may be showcased.
Vasquez, who formerly sang professionally, conveys his passion for the Mariachi Mexican legacy on to his students.
"To talk of Mariachi is to talk of Mexico," Vasquez said. "I give them this opportunity so when they are adults they won't forget about Mexico."
Vazquez trains children of non-Hispanic origin in his Mariachi classes along with his base of Latino students.
"We have a boy now who loves to learn, has had his suit made and is learning the Mexican culture," Vazquez said. "My daughter Lupita teaches (the children) violin and I teach voice and guitar."
Other instruments used in Mariachi Juvenil Voces de Mexico include the Guitarron, which provide the base and harmony, and the Guitarra for rhythm.
Much of Mariachis groups' repertoire of songs, particularly in the early stages, was influenced by old Spanish folk tunes, such as the well known Las Mañanitas (Little Mornings), Vasquez said. Today, Las Mañanitas is used as Mexico's birthday song, which has numerous renditions. It was traditional for a young man to hire a Mariachi to serenade a señorita while she stood on her balcony or at an open window, Vasquez said. The Mariachi serenade was an open assertion by a suitor of his love for a young lady. In old Mexican custom, parents made the final decision concerning the marriage of their daughters, and a shut window or door would typically signal that a courting request had been denied, he said.
Mariachis can be hired in various towns in the United States and most cities in Mexico. The music groups keep busy during holidays and special occasions, performing for such events as Mother's Day, weddings and birthdays.
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