Vol. 3, No. 1 November 1997
Crisol
BufonsCrisol
BufonsHILO, the Hispanic Initiative for Literacy Opportunities, and El Escritorio produced and sponsored the 4rd Annual Festival de las Artes on November 9, 1997 at Sangre de Cristo Arts & Conference Center in Pueblo, Colorado. The agenda was dynamic, with artists, musicians, singers, dancers, artisans and theater performers all showing their best.
The Fourth Annual Festival de las Artes took those who attended on a journey to the land of the Tarahumara Indians of Chihuahua, Mexico with renowned artist Miguel Angel Camarena; they visited the Aztec and Mayan temples through the eyes of Andrew Velez; proceeded to medieval Spain with the Crisol Bufons; learned about the dance costumes of Mexico from Ballet Folklorico de Pueblo; listened to the beautiful Mexican and Cuban music of Deanna Valdez; heard Selena's unforgettable music by Deserae Baros; viewed the exhibits of folkart from the San Luis Valley; and much more.
The 1997 Festival de las Artes included Art, Music, Theater, Artisans, Crafts and Food representing the Hispano, Native American, Mexican and Spanish culture of Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico. Artists from throughout the region presented their finest works; performers reflected the beautiful and rich culture of the area; artisanos displayed their hand made crafts; vendors sold items representative of the culture.
This event represented the beauty and diversity of a culture representing over 20 million citizens of the United States and over 400 million people of the world. It was also a community event with representation from different high schools, colleges, organizations and more. We welcomed performers from out of town, out of state and even out of the country. Nuestra casa es su casa. Bienvenidos a todos!
The Tarahumara, who call themselves Raramuri are northern Mexico's largest tribe. For years after the conquest of Mexico, the Tarahumara resisted contact with Europeans and mestizos by retreating to the impenetrable canyons of Chihuahua. Jesuit missionaries were the first Europeans to contact them in the early seventeenth century. Some were easily converted to Christianity and took up residence in Mexican pueblos established by the Jesuit missionaries at the foot of the Sierra Madre mountain range. Most retreated into the mountain highland area and into the deep canyons gouged out by fast flowing rivers as miners and then lumber companies chipped away at the edges of their traditional homelands. Because the Tarahumara live in widely dispersed house clusters called rancherías, some of which are practically inaccessible except on foot, census takers can only estimate their present population at 40 to 50,000. Foreigners know the Tarahumara for the popular tourist destination their picturesque canyon homeland has become, but especially for their reputation as long-distance runners. In the language Raramuri means runners on foot. In their competitions contestants run in teams with men kicking a wooden ball along a prescribed course while women use sticks to propel grass hoops. In 1994, Tarahumara men finished first, second and fifth in Colorado's Leadville Trail 100 mile-race--running on hand-made, truck tire soled sandals! The winner, Victoriano Churro was fifty-five years old at the time. Stories abound about superhuman feats of strength where Tarahumara have carried enormous loads from mountain top to canyon bottom over steep narrow trails, often in the dark of night.
La Llorona is a legend that most Hispanics heard about when they were growing up. It is well known to most ethnic groups. Several authors write about her. Some authors reminisce about her such as Rudolfo Anaya.
Three years ago when he visited Pueblo he stated that when he was a child he saw her by the river when he was late in getting home one evening. He met her. She almost got him. He was running away as hard as he could and she reached out and grabbed him. He still has the scars.
It is not known for sure where the legend comes from. She has been compared with Malinche, Hernán Cortés' interpreter and mistress in Mexico. One thing for certain is that you don't want to be near the river at dusk for fear of being stolen by La Llorona whose two children drowned. She continues to search for her children and she may mistake you for them.
A theater presentation of La Llorona del Valle was performed at the Fourth Festival de las Artes. The cast is made up of Colorado College's Butah Troupe. The play was written by Rahel Butah, a 1997 Colorado College Graduate, with a degree in Comparative Literature. The performers included John Gomez, a senior majoring in Ethics Studies and Philosophy, originally from Dulce, New Mexico; Gina Lopez an Anthropology major from Pueblo; Chawntell (age eleven) and Fabian Medina (age six) with extended family in San Luis; Faye Medina, born and raised in San Luis, now living in Denver, working in a medical center; Laila Peabody, an Economics major, originally from Mexico; Margarita Stevenson, a Neuroscience major and a native of Peru; Melissa Torres, a math major from Colorado Springs; and Kim Sanchez who plays Marina, is a graduate from Colorado College with a Sociology degree, and originally from the San Luis Valley. Kim's brother, Aaron, and her father, Fred, are the musicians in the play.
This presentation of La Llorona is a local version of this legend and is being directed by Tammy Gallegos also of San Luis. The story is based on Butah's research in the San Luis Valley and some interviews in Pueblo. Everyone that has heard of La Llorona has their own version but to see this version up on stage was an amazing experience to over 450 people in attendance.
Mexicans are known as fatalists. They accept death bravely and without complaint. Octavio Paz in The Labyrinth of Solitude, writes, "To the modern Mexican, death doesn't have any meaning...To the inhabitant of New York, Paris or London, death is a word that is never uttered because it burns the lips. The Mexican, on the other hand, frequents it, mocks it, caresses it, sleeps with it, celebrates it. It is one of his favorite toys and most permanent lover."
El Día de los Muertos, The Day of the Dead, falls on November 2nd and is a national holiday in Mexico. Days before and after November 2nd death looms everywhere. Invitingly, he leers from the bakery windows. The women make bread of the dead in the form of animals and human forms. Candy shops exhibit skulls with bright tinsel eyes. Markets sell special candlesticks and censers and beautiful candles of all sizes and colors. The toys for children are little coffins with skeletons that jump out.
You can see miniature altars with ofrendas or food offerings for the dead. In several cities one can hear calaveras or verses. There are actually satire that mock people in public life. They refer to policeman as tecolotes or owls. Sometimes even the priests are subject to these verses. Calavera means skull. Many of the verses end with "y son calaveras," meaning "now they're dead ones."
People visit cemeteries all day long. Outside the cemeteries people are selling candles, flowers, food, and drinks. It becomes a social event. The people expect visits from the dead and receive them as honored guests. The ofrendas, mentioned earlier are very lavish. In addition to food and fruit there is incense and a candle for each dead soul. They serve the dishes of which the dead person was fondest of in life. They believe that the dead partake of the food in spirit and the living eat it afterward. Other things that are placed in the ofrenda are rosaries, photos, santos and other things that were favorites of the person being remembered.
The day is a combination of showing respect for those who have died, praying for lost souls. and a realization that death is a completion of life.
COMPAÑERO © 1997, El Escritorio