Mexican Manners

Now another installment of a section I like to call “Mexican Manners”.  One of the many fun,  interesting things when it comes to learning about other cultures is studying manners and customs. If you want to impress Mexicans friends/acquaintances, this section will provide some tips for you.

Today’s Tip is: WATCH YOUR BACK.

I think this is a custom observed in most Hispanic cultures, not sure if it’s observed in other cultures, though. I’ve been with people who aren’t Hispanic and don’t follow the “watch your back” rule.  They didn’t mean anything by it, it’s just a custom they don’t observe. In Mexican  culture  though it’s an important rule. Why? Because,  it is considered very rude to have your back turned to someone.  This is called “dar la espalda” = give someone your back. It’s considered  as a sign of  ignoring someone, a physical affront…etc.  In all fairness, there are times when you must turn away from someone to talk to someone else, and certain situations when due to positioning, having your back face someone can’t be helped.  For politeness sake though,  it’s best to keep the location of your back in mind and try to position yourself  at an angle where you’re not directly turning your back to anyone. Or if you do turn your back, excuse yourself & try and try not to do  it for too long.

Rose Parade: Marching Banda

VIDEO: Marching band “Banda Musical Delfines” from  Xalapa Veracruz Mexico performs at the 2011 Rose Parade in Pasadena California. For many, especially if you’re from SoCal, the new year doesn’t officially start till you’ve seen the Rose Parade.

Video, aerial view of the band’s formation spelling “Mexico”:

http://univision34.univision.com/felicesfiestas/desfile-de-las-rosas/videos/video/2011-01-01/ilos-delfines-dieron-lo-mejor

Parade float with folkloric dancers :

http://univision34.univision.com/felicesfiestas/desfile-de-las-rosas/videos/video/2011-01-01/carroza-con-sabor-hispano

Xmas Songs in Spanish

In Spanish carols are know as “villancicos”

Los Peces en El Rio= The Fish in the River

Va a nevar= It’s gonna snow (Let it snow Spanish Version)

El Niño Tamborilero = Little Drumer Boy

Mex Xmas Drinks

Baby it’s cold outside ♪  Then let’s have some ponche & champurrado! Take a look at these vids about warm drinks that are traditionally enjoyed during Christmas =)

I’ve heard Champurrado described as  mix between hot chocolate & porridge. The drink is thickened with cornstarch/cornflour.  Champurrado comes in many flavors, &  can be seen during Xmas time served with tamales =) During “Posadas” = Xmas processions/parties, “Ponche Navideño” (Christmas Punch) a warm drink brewed with a blend of fruits is given to guest.  The basic punch recipe contains: Guava, Cinnamon, Hibiscus flower, tamarind, cane, Tejocotes (hawthorn).  For both the champurrado & ponche pilloncillo are used which is cone shaped Mexican dark brown sugar.

Spanish: Saying/ Colloquialism of the Day

Today’s saying/ expression is:

“ECHAR FLORES” =  To throw /toss flowers (at someone/something).

MEANING: to praise, compliment, to flirt with someone.

Pronunciation: eh-chah-ahr floh-reh-ehs

That’s so Mexican

Over time I’ve seen and heard the “that’s so Mexican” jokes going around . You know the type, the derogatory, stereotyped ones. Sadly these “jokes” are all too often propagated by Mexicans themselves.  So this post category will be dedicated to things that are “so Mexican” and so POSITIVE! For example often times jokes are about Mexicans and their attitudes on life, such as the “cut corners, do it the Mexican way”  joke.  Well,  did you know, in Mexican and Hispanic culture the following saying exists : “Pobre pero, honrado” =  Poor(concerning wealth), but decent/honorable.” This saying is used as a reminder to be true to one’s self and be proud of who you are and where you come from. You don’t need to be fake to fit in. It’s important to be rich in spirit.  No one, regardless of social status or wealth can ever look down on you as long as you’re and upstanding person.

This saying is so popular that there’s even been movies with this saying as their tittle.   In novelas there’s the example of the maid being accused of stealing the boss’s gold watch or what have you, upon being accused she’ll respond “Seré pobre, pero honrada” = I may be poor/just a maid, but I’m honorable.

Cool Mexican Stuff: More fun with Nahuatl aka Aztec

 

Sing a long Friday : “Xochipitzahuatl” (traditional Mexican song)

So many beautiful things about our cultures, things that are worth: admiring, learning about and most of all  keeping alive & thriving. One of those things most definitely has to be language. In Paraguay 88% of the population speaks Guarani along with Spanish.  In Taiwan though most people speak Mandarin and the older generations are most knowledgeable when it comes to traditional Taiwanese, and though Taiwanes youngsters outside of Taiwan are a little sketchy on it,  native Taiwanese kids are still taught about it (traditional Taiwanese) and understand it a bit even if they don’t practice it as often as say their grandparents, or so I’ve heard.  So, I listen to different kinds of music and there’s this Taiwanese pop girl group I like. I totally fell in love with one of the songs off  their latest album, and  I especially  thought  it was super cool when I  heard the group recorded that particular song not in main stream Mandarin but instead in traditional Taiwanese.  This is our heritage ,our vestige…. We should take pride in these beautiful treasures. That is why in today’s post I’d like to share a traditional Mexican song. This post as they all are is  for everyone, but especially those who’d like to learn  a short little something in Nahuatl(aka Aztec).  The song is called “Xochipitzahuatl” pronounced: soh-chee-pee-tzah-hoo-wah-tahl, meaning: little flower.  This song is AKA “Flor Menudita” in Spanish.

Are these kids too COOL or what?! And such talent =D Plus they look so cute in their outfits.

It’s just a few short lines, but it something cool you can learn &   impress your friends with. Show ’em you can sing in Nahuatl!

This song is usually sung at weddings  in the Huasteca region of Mexico. From what I’ve been able to research, it is sometimes danced rather than sung. The  song is preformed for the Virgin of Guadalupe as away of asking for the event to be blessed. I’m not incredibly familiar with this song, so not sure how long the song actually is . The girls in the first vid seem to be singing more lyrics than the guy in the 2nd vid =S   Went on a hunt for the lyrics online and can not for the life of me find proper lyrics. There’s very little info online, could be that is due to the fact that the song is often know as a dance rather than a piece that is sung. I can only get little excerpts here & there, plus everyone’s version differs =(

Still so glad to see people taking pride in their roots and passing them on especially youngsters. =)  Hope you ENJOY GUYS!!

Mexican Talent in the Performing Arts

Videos: Pianist Salvador Rodriguez  Aldrete from Nayarit.  Professional musician of 30 years. As a  professor of music he is currently heading the “Elemental Music” & “Oratory Principals”  workshops  at the Catholic University of Puerto Vallarta.

This ballet version of the Jarabe Tapatio was a performance that took place as part of the concert celebrating  Mr. Rodriguez’s  30 yr career featuring ballerina Ruth Marcela Perez Contreras.

http://www.pianistasalvatore.com/Enlaces.html

Mexican Manners : Please & Thank You

No, it’s not November yet, but today is all about giving thanks. Perhaps it is pretty common knowledge that Thank You in Spanish = Gracias,  right? However, giving thanks in Spanish can entail more than just this little word.  Here’s a  few tips for those interested in learning Spanish & who want to sound like native speakers.

HOW TO SAY THANK YOU:

Due to the formal tone manners in Spanish tend to take, often times people will start off with #1″muchas gracias” (many thanks)instead of just gracias.  From there a thank you maybe upgraded to #2“muchisimas gracias” (very many thanks ). Other times you might get #3″mil gracias” (a thousand thank yous). Another common thank you expression is #4″Gracias, muy amable” (Thanks, very amiable/kind/considerate/polite. *the word “you” is implied not said).

Yet another thank you expression is: “A usted” = To you. Short for thanks to you. Often times you’ll hear this as response when you thank someone, even if you haven’t done any particular favor for the other person. Sounds kinda funny right? Why would they be thanking you when they just did YOU a favor? Well, it’s kind of a “you’re welcome ” It is used to sound humble and let the other person know that you are happy/thankful that they feel comfortable with you, trutst you, feel they can count on you & turn to you for help. Speaking of “a usted” for extra politeness you may add these words to expressions 1-3. *Note that the word “usted” is  formal address .  In other words the  formal form of  the word “you”.  As for the formal version of expression #4 , it would be: “Gracias, es usted muy amable.”

(Yup that’s right! For those who are new to Spanish or unfamiliar with this topic, there are 2 ways to say “you”.  More on that & formal speech, in a later post) =D

HOW TO SAY YOU’RE WELCOME:

As a response to all these thankful expressions you may use the following:

“No te fijes/No se fije” =literally you are saying “do not look or observe”  Short for: do not pay attention to such a thing/observe such matter. Used to connote: Think nothing of it, Glad to do it. * Note: ” No se fije” =formal command, “No te fijes” = casual/familiar speech.

“De nada” or “Por nada” = Literally you’re saying “ about nothing” or “for  nothing.”  Short for : thank me for/about nothing.  Used to connote: There’s no need to thank me. Don’t mention it.

“Para lo que se le/te ofresca” = the word “ofrecer” means : something is needed or comes up. You are literally saying “For whatever you might need”  Short for: “Here to help with whatever you might need or with whatever situation might present itself to you”  Used to mean : My pleasure, here to help. *Again “se le ofresca” is formal “se te ofresca” is casual.