National Wattle Day

By Gabriela Montes de Oca Casellas

Flowers are so beautiful and some of them help us with illness. The golden wattle is a beautiful yellow flower produced in Australia, and it is one of Australia’s national floral emblems. It produces not only gum for the glues and honey with its blossom but also has antiseptic properties.

In Australia, there is the National Wattle Day, which is celebrated on the 1^st of September.

Usually, people celebrate wearing the blossom or planting the flower.

This day was introduced by the Wattle Day League, a club founded by Archibald Campbell, on 1913.

It became one emblem of Australia on 1912, by the Prime Minister, Andrew Fisher. He suggested that the flower should be included as a decoration surrounding the Commonwealth Coat of Arms.

Is interesting how a flower became so important.

DIA DE MUERTOS (DAY OF DEATH)

By Gabriela Montes de Oca Casillas

For many people, when a person who you love a lot dies, is a good reason to cry.  But in Mexico the Aztecans has a different conception of the death. They thought that when you die, you are a lucky person because you’ll be with god. After the death you won’t feel pain anymore, and for celebrate that they make a banquet, on July 16^th (the original date) these death people come back to take this banquet.

Candy skull

  Nowadays, Mexico celebrates this day on   

  November 1^st and 2^nd. We prepare food

  which was the favorite for death person before 

  to die. Mole, arroz, pollo, atole, tamales and frijoles are the

  traditional food that people make but on November 1^st, we put  

  candies and toys for kids and  2^nd we put alcohol for the adults. 

  

  Also the water, salt, candles and  cempasúchil flower are 

  important. The water calms down their thirst because they walk a

  long road. The salt is to purify their souls.  The candles help to light

  up their road. And the cempasúchil flower that is orange and has a

  hard smell to attract these people.

Cempasúchil flower

This day is very special in Mexico; a lot of people can see their family that is dying, now. For example, my mother every November 2^nd smells like peppermint, and in the evening, she dreams with her grandfather. She smells like peppermint because her grandfather loved the peppermint. Also I want to know him, but He died before I borned. So one day of death, I dream with an old person who has a hat and white. He talked with me and also I met my aunt who died very young. When I woke up, I told to my mother what I dreamt; She was surprised, because I described her grandfather very well.

Banquet for death people

These kinds of things happen with a lot of people. Is very usual here in Mexico and also is a holyday very fun and beautiful.

QUINCEAÑERAS

By Laura Antolin Antolin

The quinceañeras are a group of girls that have the same age (fifteen years old) are called in this way because this age for the Mexican people is very important.

The tradition in Mexico is that the people said that the girl who has 15 years old is a change from girl to woman. As we know the girl has different changes in his body for example emotional, physical, physiological this changes convert the girl in a new person.

The dream of all the mexican girls is to have a wonderful quinceañera´s party, they usually start to find for things that they could use in the party. There are a lot of things that the she have to prepare for the party. The most important are the dress, mass, change of slippers, the waltz and the traditional cake.

The color of the dress it will be depend of the likes of the girl the most popular colors are pink, blue, and red, they usually going to the center of Mexico to the mall called “Lagunilla” to buy the dresses. For the mass the  family, friends and chamberlains (between 6 boys that accompanying the girl in this celebration)cof the quinceañera go to the church , when the mass finish the quinceañera and his guests go to the reception and then the parents of the girl give a food for all the guests. The food that give in this kind of party are carnitas, rice, chicken with chocolate sauces and for to drink the people usually drink soda and tequila. In the evening the quinceañera dance his waltz with her 6 chamberlains, the principal music that the woman dance is romantic and the other it depends of the likes of the quinceañera, it could be music pop, reggaeton, etc.

During the waltz exist a change of slippers that is important too because is the signal that now the girl is a woman. The pastel is other thing that can´t miss , is amazing that in some parties the pastel is for 15 floors that represent the age of the quinceañera .In this kind of party is common to see a lot of teenagers enjoy with the celebrated.

The quinceaños in Mexico is the most important dream of the girls because they wish to have a great party in this age. The special of this kind of party is that every mexican give a different style for the celebration.

Music: Symbol of Culture in Mexico

by Jazmín Montoya Salazar

Mexico is rich not only in minerals, fertile land, hardworking people, but in culture. The culture shows the footprints of our ancestors who left old habits that currently shape the concept of the country, generating habits, dialects, clothes, food, festivities, music. The music is one of the most important pieces of the puzzle of the culture of Mexico. However it is very diverse, as each genre is consistent with the states of the republic, differing in rhythm, instruments. Some examples: in the State of Veracruz is Huapango genre and instrument used is the marimba. Another of the most representative genres the band is typical in the state of Sinaloa. And of course I could not miss the mariachi, taking one of the highest reputation for being one of the Mexican symbols. But particularly makes emphasis on each of the genres of music in our country:

Banda: Genre typical state of Sinaloa, but heard throughout the republic. Made by various instruments, drums, trumpet, dishes, especially wind instruments and more. The most famous bands in the country are la banda el recodo, la arrolladora banda limón, banda cuisillos, banda, banda machos, etc.

photo by Shannon Buckley-Shaklee

Mariachi music originated in the State of Jalisco, is one of the most representative genres of Mexico considered as a symbol of Mexicans in foreign countries, and close relationship with culture. The main instruments are the trumpet, violin, and guitar. Generally the songs are sung and danced by these groups made up of ten people regularly. Some of his most popular songs are la cucaracha, toro mambo, las mañanitas.

Northern: Genre distinctive music of Michoacan, played by guitar and accordion. Among the most popular songs are: caminos de Michoacan, las casas de madera, la mesa del rincon. The groups are the most famous are intocable, los tigres del norte.

Boleros: This type of music is from Yucatan, is a type of romantic music, distinguished by only three people settle their official instrument is the guitar.

These are some of the genre with more brand in the country, however cumbia, rock and pop are not forgotten. However these are more current. Generally, older people have a misconception about these genres. Preferring unquestionably those already specified above, to have a meaning in the context in which they developed, and for being a transcendental aspect in history. All Mexican to hear this music feels vibrate the soul, as the weight of his rhythm has a touch that allows anyone to enjoy it. Hence the importance of each genre has its own style of dance and dress that gives a special touch. But it would be the world if there were no music.

Archaeological Zone in Calixtlahuaca.

By Angélica Arellano Galindo  


Calixtlahuaca is a Word Nahuatl its meaning is “Houses in the evennesses”, this is an archaeological place its ubication is in the mountain Tenismo near of city Toluca in the State of Mexico. The culture that built was meeting how Matlazincas.


1 - Circular pyramid or “Templo de Quetzalcóatl”.

This pyramid is the most popular in this place the Matlazincas built in honor God Quetzalcoatl it’s a big temple it was structure by four periods of construction. The circle is a perfect figure geometric does not have beginning and does not final, because is infinite, how the Gods, for this reason the matlazincas built the temple using circles like a scaffold.

In Calixtlahuaca the “Temple of Quetzalcoatl” is more famous than the others constructions in this town. Also the circular pyramid has some pyramids of less outstanding but that also are visited how the square or cemetery where found fifty deaths with offerings for example: gold, ceramic and winch and Base of column is a place where the Matlazincas practiced Ball Game is a big field with a hole and a circle rock that these inhabitants used for played this game.

2. - Festival del Quinto Sol.

The tourists visit this zone in March 21^stusualy they wear with white clothes because they think this day begin a new cycle of life and they want to star full of energy for to make your activities in all year and if they wear with white clothes can obtain more energy.

Each march 21^st  the inhabitants of Calixtlahuaca to realize the “Festival del Quinto Sol”, with motive of Spring Equinox. This day the people doing some activities the origin prehispanic also Ball Game.

The inhabitants of Calixtlahuaca to show dance natives, medicine, parties, sacrifices and The Traditional Ceremony of to light New Fire are the principal activities that people doing to keep the traditions of town to save, to ranson and to preserve owns customs.

For the people is very important to know the traditions and visit the pyramids because is an experience that they never forget.

• My visit in this place was nice because the inhabitants are polite, pacific and the town is more interesting.
• I don’t have word to describe and say that my visit was impressionable.
• This place has more things interesting that you have to know.

¡You should visit this place because is wonderful, you don’t repent is a experience It will very important in your life and it will be unforgettable¡

Help to preserve owns culture and owns traditions¡¡¡¡

Otomi Culture

BY:LAURA ESTRADA CARREÑO


The otomí culture originates from some Mexican towns but in this article I will talk in particular one.

Early twentieth century most of the inhabitants of this community is characterized by keeping the otomí Indian language, their customs, dress and traditions. Otomí people feel proud to wear their traditional clothes: the traditional clothes of women in the otomí group in the community of Temoaya  is a tangle of wool chincuete or blanket or very large and long like a skirt, black, blue, yellow, white with green lines, orange and yellow blouse and blanket or white poplin, short sleeve embroidered with flowers. It is characteristic of clothing quexquemetl otomí use cotton or wool in various colors and all clothing is adorned with floral decorations.

Handicraft production of otomí peoples refers to wool rugs which are made specifically for women mortars and mutates of black stone the wheat straw bags hats baskets and tule chairs piecesavates pottery and maguey fiber sashes tablecloths and napkins and hand- woven textiles made on blackstrap looms.

Otomí culture is very famous in Mexico especially in Temoaya because in this community is Otomí Ceremonial Center where the otomí people celebrate their gods and they organized some ceremonies. Inside of the Otomí Ceremonial Center there are some plazas, stairways, stylized sculptures, there is a museum with some arrows pottery sculptures found in the locality, there is also an a charro small offering in the rainy season one embodiment of the rodeo in the country only.

The feast of saints are framed in the catholic calendar and have at we saw a strong link with the cycles in an old agricultural tradition. The otomí celebrate the Santa Cruz to the virgins of Concepcion, Loreto, Asuncion and Guadalupe, San Pedro, San Miguel , San Juan, San Jaime and Santa Teresa among others mayordomias, schools boards, and groups of dancers are responsible for organizing and planning for all year celebration.

The otomí culture is famous too for their songs especially one called “tzi mare ku” this song is used at final of the wedding when the couple is dancing to say good bye their parent’s house. I present the lyrics song:

TZI MARE KU

Ya go mago tzi mare ku                       
Ya go mago tzi mbare ku                     
Ûna hjpa nghjeya do nthjewi ku Ûna hjpa nkhjeya to ûmûy wi ku

Ûna hjpa nhjeya to nzzengua wi          
Ûna hjpa nghjeya do tzí ma tsí             
Ûna hjpa nghjeya to ùingui ki         
Pohjki kja madí tzi mare ku                 
Ya go mago tzi mare ku                          
Ya go mago tzi mbare ku Tari shudi go nzzengua wi                   
Tari mani go nhjewi pi

Ma tzi ngande bi iñuhjti gui                
Go nzzengua ma khja-ûni, kjangu ki 
Go-ûthjo di nzzengua tzi mare ku       
Go-ûthjo di bini tzi mbare ku

Ya go mago tzi mare ku                   
Ya go mago tzi mbare ku                 
Ûna hjpa nkhjeya to ûmûy wi ku       
Ûna hjpa nkhjeya do nibi ku              
Kja go ma thjewi hri nkhjeya pà /
Hjantze nû tzi tada i pahj ya mà

Hjâ go mago tzi mare ku             
Hjâ go mago tzi mbare ku

Check back later for an English translation of the song.

Toluca the community of Chorizo… Yummy!!!

By Yessica Yazmin Cruz Resendiz

Chorizo is the best dish in Toluca, nothing looks like Chorizo of Toluca, the longaniza looks like a chorizo but this chorizo is not separated.

Chorizo is a regional sausage made of ground pork and tomato sauce, and other ingredients such as vinegar, cumin, cinnamon, marjoram, salt, pepper, almonds, potatoes, onion, garlic and chili, but the best chorizo contains pumpkin mole, pipian, white wine or vinegar.

Almost every one that eats this dish shouldn`t forget a tortilla because in general when people eat chorizo, it is in a taco of chorizo that has fry onion, potato and lemon juice.

If you visit Toluca, you will eat Chorizo!!!

The city of Toluca is famous for the preparation and the variety that made of this dish. One specialty in Toluca is the green chorizo, called thus because of the ingredients it has like tomato and some plants, any one that prepares chorizo should put peanuts and others secrets ingredients.

Some people who eat chorizo in other places, say that it is better to eat in Toluca than eat if in another city, this is because it doesn´t exist some delicious dish that the chorizo of Toluca.

To eat alone, uncooked, dried, prepare or fry, the variety of chorizo are delicious dishes that every person must eat when they visit Toluca, although not born in this place, the city has the recipe and the picture of the best dish that the people never forget.

The people of Toluca are called “chorizeros” and the team of football in the city is identified for this dish.

Remember if you visit Toluca you must eat chorizo!!! You don´t forget the delicious flavor that this food has.