Forty six new cultural assets have been added to UNESCO’S (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) list of “Intangible Cultural Heritage”. A list containing traditional treasures from different corners of the globe, cornerstones and representations of diverse communities and cultures. A list that gives these treasure distinguished status, & tells the world they are patrimony that is to be admired and safeguarded. Among those treasures are Mexican customs & staples. Please enjoy the following videos showcasing the Mexican assets that have made it on to UNESCOS’s list. Congratulations Mexico & fellow Mexicans! May we continue to feel pride for our roots and preserve them with honor.
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!!
Here’s a short list of books I thought worth recommending, because what better way to celebrate your culture than by learning and exploring. No? Here’s wishing you much discovery and enjoyment =D
2010 being the Centenial of the Mexican Revolution, how can I possibly forget to mention ” Los De Abajo” (by Mariano Azuela ,1915 ) = “The Ones At The Bottom/The Underdogs”
A very prominent book in Mexican literature. You can find an English version of this book, but if you read Spanish, truly recommend that you read it in it’s originally context.
“ Mariano Azuela, Mexican author and physician, best known for his fictional stories of the Mexican Revolution of 1910. He wrote novels, works for theatre and literary criticism. During his days in the Mexican Revolution, Azuela wrote about the war and its impact on Mexico. He served under president Francisco I. Madero as chief of political affairs in Lagos de Moreno, Jalisco – his home town. After Madero’s death, he joined the military forces of Julián Medina, a follower of Pancho Villa, where he served as a field doctor. He later was forced for a time to emigrate to El Paso, Texas. There he wrote Los de abajo, a first-hand description of combat during the Mexican revolution, based on his experiences in the field.“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariano_Azuela
“The revolution benefits the poor, the ignorant, all those who have been slaves all their lives, all the unhappy people who do not even suspect they are poor because the rich who stand above them, the rich who rule them, change their sweat and blood and tears into gold…” (excerpt from “The Underdogs).
Aztec, Inca, and Maya (Eyewitness Book Series) – Learn about native indigenous cultures to Mexico & Latin America. Discover facts about what their religion, traditions, civilizations, what their daily way of life was like. Filled with “eyewitness” pictures and illustrations.
The Course Of Mexican History Seventh Edition- ( by Michael C. Meyer, the late William L. Sherman, Susan M. Deeds) This book offers a completely up-to-date, lively, and engaging survey from the pre-Colombian times to the present. Such a text is considered to be an indispensable tool for students of : Mexican History, Politics, Economics, and Culture.
My Sweet Mexico: Reciepies for authentic pastries, sweet bread, beverages, candy and frozen treats (by Fany Gerson)
Frida: Viva La Vida! Long Live Life (by Bernier-Grand, Carmen T) This book is a 14 yrs + text. It is part of a group of works in which biographies are told through poetry. The book also contains reproductions of Mrs. Kahlo’s work.
Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez (by Kathleen Kull) – This children’s book takes a look at Cesar Chavez’s life and how he grew up to become a leader for justice. Learn about Cesar’s: chilhood, his family, and how he pushed for the ever important migrant farmworkers’ cause.
An institution with a rich & deep history, a educational & cultural mainstay that is well worth getting to know is turning 100, Mexico’s famed UNAM (National Autonomous University of Mexico)
FACTS ABOUT UNAM
*Established Sep of 1910 two months before the beginning of the Mexican Revolutionary War
*Based primarily in Mexico City
*Has Nobel prize recipients among it’s alumni: Alfonso Garcia Robles(for Peace), Octavio Paz (Literature), Mario Molina (Chemistry)
*Main campus is a world heratige site.
*Served as a sanctuary for exiled republican Spaniards, and refugees of Latin American dictatorships.
“Murals in the main campus were painted by some of the most recognized artists in Mexican history, such as Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siqueiros.”
“Generally considered to have the largest enrollment among universities in the Americas.”
UNAM’s soccer team Los Pumas participates in the first division of the Mexican Soccer League.
“UNAM students and professors are regarded throughout Mexico as very politically-aware and sometimes intensely politically active”
The list of those who have attended the prestigious university includes: heads of state, humanitarians, writers, physicians, sports stars and diplomats.
The school currently has : a radio station, its own TV channel, and a philharmonic
UNAM Philharmonic plays at Uxmal ruins. Sorry if the vid’s a little off it’s a home video someone posted. The music’s awesome though, so I just had to post it.
Sept 15-Oct 15 is Hispanic Heritage month. I’d like to share some awesome sites and a cool article with you guys. Found this great article from The Smithsonian in their Hispanic Heritage section. The article celebrates the Mexican sportsman’s spirit.
“The Little League World Series’ Only Perfect Game” “The surprising story of the 1957 Little League team from Monterrey, Mexico.”
Today Mexico remembers the 1985 earthquake. It’s been 25 years already. On Sep 19, 1985 at about: 7:19 a.m. a 8.1 magnitude quake struck causing devastation. Though disputed, the sum of 10,000 in fatal human casualties is estimated. The epicenter was located off the Pacific Coast & being that Mexico City sits on an old lake bed incredible damage resulted there. It is said to have been 3-4 billion dollar worth of damage, 412 buildings collapsed, and those that were significantly damaged sum up to 3,124 infrastructures. To make matters worse one of the areas that affected most severly happened to be one with a concentration of hospitals. Today of course the quake is a ” Trending Topic” on Twitter Mexico, again and again the same sentiment is expressed: ” In time of crisis Mexico can band together & stand in brotherhood. Charging onward with a fighting spirit! Mexico can not be kept down!”
Here are a few exerps from Wikipidea with details on the event.
“According to government figures, approximately 250,000 people lost their homes directly due to the earthquake. Unofficial sources put that figure much higher.[14] Some sources state that more than 50,000 families lost their homes, and INEGI reports that 700,000 people in the Federal District and the suburbs in the State of Mexico lost their homes.[6]“
“More than 4,000 people were rescued alive. 9,600 injured people received treatment, including 1,879 who needed hospitalization. Despite the loss of 5,000 hospital beds, there was never a shortage of facilities for the injured. Some of the reason for this was that those with postponable care were discharged, but mostly because the public and private facilities unified de-facto during the crisis.[13] There were also people rescued as late as ten days after the initial event.[17]“
The “Torre de Hospitalización” was built in 1970 with the main building being twelve stories tall. It had two wings, one facing north and the other south, with an inpatient capacity of 536 beds. At the top was a helipad. It was also surrounded by a number of other buildings belonging to the hospital complex such as a blood bank, teaching facilities, offices as well as the original convent. At the time of the earthquake, the hospital was 80% full, and it was shift change time for nurses, doctors and residents. Within minutes, the steel-frame structure collapsed, crushing and trapping many people inside.[18]
Found two awesome movies and a great program to share with you guys on Mexico’s independence. The first movie is “Cries of Death & Liberty”. It’s actually a short series that was released in commemoration of the Bicentennial. Posted the trailer & part 1. Click on the vid and it will take you to YouTube where there rest of the vids are =D
The second movie is entitled “The Lit Torch” also a series based on the Independence struggle this section is entitled “The taking of Alhondiga of Granaditas”. What’s is the Alhondiga of Granaditas & what’s its importance? You can discover the story and get some background at the following link before watching the movie: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alh%C3%B3ndiga_de_Granaditas
As for the show, it has a very interesting premise! The show has a time machine concept, they bring back historical figures and interview them. I’ve posted an edition with interviews with heroes of the Mexican Independence movement.
I’ve only posted the first part to each of the interviews, but if you click on the respective video it will take you to YouTube where you can find the rest. All vids are titled with the hero’s name & all parts are numbered.
Today the Banco of Mexico known as Banxico placed new 500 peso bills into circulation which depict celebrated Mexican artists: Diego Rivera & Frida Kahlo. The new bills are equiped with special security measures and are the final in a series of new bills that first began to be released back in September ’06. The front of the bills will have Rivera’s self portrait and the reverse will have his wife’s, Frida Kahlo’s self portrait.
Among the special features which will serve to distinguish authentic bills are: three dimensional threading, a section of the bill will be color changing, micro script, and a watermark.
2010 is the year of the Mexican Bicentennial, that’s Mexico’s 200 birthday, but also being celebrated this year is the centennial for the Mexican Revolution. Wars are always ugly & tragic no doubt about that, but the spirit of those who fight for what’s right, for their most treasured beliefs is always inspiring. In this manner the Mexican Revolution can be seen as a passionate, romantic era full of heroism and adventure. I’d love to recommend a movie that depicts just that. I’ve really been interested in posting about Mexican cinema especially classic cinema and what better way to introduce those who aren’t familiar with it than this awesome movie. The movie is called “La Cucaracha”. It stars Maria Felix an icon of the “cine de oro” =”golden cinema” era of Mexico. She was commonly known, particularly in her later years, by the honorific La Doña. There is no comparison really , but I guess you could say she might be something like the Katharine Hepburn of Mexico.
Here’s an excerpt.
La Cucaracha:“Take it off! Strip yourself of all that’s proper. Come at me with whatever you’ve got!” Isabel: “What I have, is too much for you.”
“La Cucaracha” tells the story of a renegade soldadera with a fearless bravado. Soldaderas = were female soldiers who went into combat alongside men during the Mexican Revolution. For those who don’t speak Spanish, but would like to watch, I’ll break down the story. “La Cucaracha” (Maria Felix) is a rough and tumble soldadera who is passionate about the revolution, however the hardships of war have given her a very cynical attitude and sharp tongue. She is anything but lady like, she believes in : drinking, gun slinging and being marry. Doña Isabel is a very religious, modest, widow she is constantly refereed to as a respectable lady. She hates the revolution because “the cause” took her husband’s life. When the revolutionary Colonel Zeta comes to town “La Cucaracha” expresses her desire to join his men and is laughed at him and told to go home. She refuses to be mocked or belittled so she decidedly follows their trail. Doña Isabel follows too in search of her husband. She arrives at their camp to find: drunk men and women laughing by campfires and severe casualties, among them her husband. Distraught, disheartened and not knowing what to do with her life she reluctantly opts to follow the troops instead of going back home. She refuses to become a soldadera and just helps the group with things like : nursing and cooking instead. Along the way “La Cucaracha’s” renegade ways win over Colonel Zeta and he begins to try and woo her. At first she sneers at him with a prideful demeanor and won’t have him, but they end up together. Colonel Zeta tells “La Cucaracha” that if she is to be his “woman” she needs to settle down, and for love she does. Trouble irrupts when La Cucaracha suspects that something going on between Colonel Zeta and Isabel. He assures her that he only only has eyes for her and any special attention he pays to Doña Isabel is out of respect for her as a lady & widow. As time goes by the war begins to change Isabela and she eventually likes the idea of casting her modest customs aside and becoming a full fledged soldadera. What happens next? Well, don’t want to give away the ending, so you’ll just have to watch =D
Here’s a link to part 1 of the movie if you want to watch the whole movie all the accompanying videos are numbered and should appear on the side.
★MeGaSuPer Chido y + 