*Note: This post is part of a Blog Hop among the Mexico Today Ambassadors in celebration of el mes de la patria and el Día de la Independencia Mexicana. If you've written a tribute post for this patriotic Mexican holiday, I encourage you to leave a link in the comments on this post in addition to checking out the posts from the other ambassadors participating. The official blog hop is set to only accept entries from the ambassadors.
I love mariachi music like I love tacos, and if you know me well, then you know that I love tacos and mariachi music to the end of the world and back. We have a storied relationship and yes, even my iPod is full of mariachi classics.
Nothing quite stirs my soul like mariachi music. I wish I could put my finger on an exact reason, but I can't. It's a bit like how Mexico has always felt like home to me even though I was born in the U.S. Whenever I'm having a bad day, a little mariachi music always cheers me up. Or sometimes when I'm really missing Mexico and it's been too long since my last visit, a few classic tunes always do the trick to make me feel better and look forward to the next visit.
Recently, I had an opportunity to attend a special dinner in Chicago hosted by the Jalisco Tourism Board. The food was fabulous, the company genuine, and the after dinner entertainment... yep, you guessed it: mariachi!
But not just any mariachi band; this group was all the way from Guadalajara! It was such a surprise and a treat and most of the people I was seated with at my table were singing along. It was the birthday of someone at my table so they even played Las Mañanitas!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJgJicDoQfk[/youtube]
A few weeks ago, the 18th Annual International Mariachi Conference (yes, this really exists!) took place in the state of Jalisco, and one of our cousins from Mexico City shared a link with me of a BBC World News report about a new Guinness World Record set for the most traditional Mexican dancers on the floor at the same time. To be exact, there were 457 dancers and 300 mariachi musicians from all over Mexico and other countries, including the U.S.—and some came from as far away as Colombia, Ecuador and Argentina to participate and play in the record-breaking ceremony. I was amazed watching the video. Click through to the link to watch it—I know you'll enjoy it as much as I did!
No Mexican celebration is truly complete—especially las fiestas patrias—without mariachi music. So put on some tunes (I recommend anything by Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán), wave your Mexican flag and don't forget to watch El Grito tonight! I'm even pulling out my papel picado to decorate. I hope to see the zócalo of Mexico City on TV, filled to the brim with people like last year and the year before.
For past years' celebrations, check out my posts on chiles en nogada (with a video of Calderón giving El Grito), and my two posts from last year's Mexican bicentennial: guacamole y papel picado and how I celebrate Mexico every day.
¡Viva México!
- How are you celebrating Mexican Independence Day this year?
Marca País – Imagen de México, is a joint public and private sector initiative designed to help promote Mexico as a global business partner and an unrivaled tourist destination. This program is designed to shine a light on the Mexico that its people experience every day. Disclosure: I am being compensated for my work in creating content for the México Today program. All stories, opinions and passion for all things México shared here are completely my own.
Craig Zabransky says
I could not agree more, nothing says Mexico like the Mariachi... My iPod is full of tunes too. Viva!
Stay adventurous, Craig
Karriann Graf says
Viva Mexico! Happy Celebrating!
CancunCanuck says
Viva Mexico y Viva las Mariachis!
Here in Cancun there is a spot that I call "Mariachi Corner". It's a little storefront where they all gather before wandering from restaurant to bar to restaurant hoping a table will hire them. All the different colours, the musicians tuning their instruments, wiping sweat from their brows, the old men teaching the young, I love passing by. 🙂
Nancy says
Aaah, mariachi! We go to Guadalajara frequently and I am always in a swoon both watching and listening! And I keep hoping that someday as a present for me that my husband will buy a pair of those mariachi pants with the silver buttons on the legs. I love those!
Here in Mazatlán we have Banda Corners, but I love mariachi so much more!
Ana L. Flores says
I dream of having mariachis come to my birthday party! Always loved that in Mexico parties
vianney/sweet life says
Love mariachis, we had them for my wedding and every year for mother's day! There is nothing like a Sunday morning at San Juan Basillica Mass and mariachis, lovely.
Wanderingwerta says
I always hated Mariachi...until one day in Spanish class the teacher wanted to play a song for us and her computer would work. Out of the blue my 20 year old classmate offered to perform the song for extra credit. (She and her boyfriend performed mariachi at weddings in San Francisco and the surrounding area.) Just a simple song and rich smokey amazing voice. Somehow she got all the pain, passion, and hard lived experience of the world weary her voice. Amazing. She made me a fan!!
Uchi says
¡Qué viva México! muchas felicidades!
Sujeiry, 1st Lady of Love says
I grew up listening to mariachi even though I'm Dominican. My mom has a varied taste in music and I love that I was able to enjoy mariachi at a young age. It is a great genre of music with many amazing artists!
Carla @ All of Me Now says
I miss mariachis. I'm from NJ but there were always a few restaurants that had them and it always made a regular dinner seem so much more festive. Viva Mexico!
Jes Sofia Valle says
wow! thats a lot of mariachi peeps. I've always wanted a mariachi group to sing to me early in the am on my birthday... *sigh* I lovE TACOS TOOO!
Presley's Pantry says
I'm celebrating by eating! We will be enjoying all the latino jewels housed here in Los Angeles. I heart mariachi music too, and have been known to jump up and sing with them.