[Dead Women of Juarez]

From 1993 until the year 2002 women living in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, are afraid to leave their homes, their work, no matter the hour, and is already more than 200 women murdered, that’s what the media information been disseminated to the public, but I think that this version is not very far from reality. But they can not stay at home all day, having to go out to work, economic livelihood of every day.

Violence, aggression, or as you called, remains on the margins of development of humanity not in vain says that survives and evolves the most suitable, and that is not only suitable for in skill, but strength; focuses more how strong the aggressor allows the survival of which is weaker than him. The issue of aggression, it had always been referred to in the history of society, men have represented the role of the fort and the weak has been awarded to women.

Mexican society is a society characterized as male chauvinist [machista], besides that it shows the lifestyle of the population, where the figure of the man plays a very important role to such an extent to represent the strength of the family. That many Mexicans call ” what they will say?”, it has reached extreme situations where women endure abuse, in order to give the impression to neighbors, friends and relatives that her marriage is stable. It is noteworthy that the same applies to domestic partners boyfriends and even in extreme cases among friends.

While Mexican society and in all societies, violence has become an acceptable way of life in many cases, this is due to the steadfastness with which presents mostly domestic violence. Moreover, the violence with a greater degree of cruelty, to such an extent to cause death, for the moment is very rejected by society; this issue is that we will deal with this reflection.

The central theme for women murdered in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua is a huge problem.

Now hollowed filmed a Movie with Jennifer Lopez about the topic, but is just a little bit about the real life.

El Tajín is one of the most beautiful sites in the state of Veracruz, when you walk there you can feel the greatness of the people who lived there.

El Tajín is a pre-Columbian archaeological, located in the state of Veracruz, site near to Papantla, and Poza Rica.

The city of Tajín was the capital of Totonaca state. Tajín means City or Place of thunder in the Totonaca language. Also some people say that Tajín means the name of some totonaca god.

The construction of ceremonial Tajín probably started in the Century I. In the early classical period Tajín showed the influence of Teotihuacan; while in period showed postclásico influence Toltec.

The reconstruction beginning in the thirteenth century, at the same time El Tajín was destroyed by invaders Chichimecs, a few people who did not continue the construction of temples occupied this site. This site was completely uninhabited when the Spanish conquistadors arrived in the fifteenth century.

The trees quickly occupied the abandoned site. In 1785 the engineer Diego Ruiz visited the site and gave a description of this. In the nineteenth century William Dupaix, Alexander von Humboldt and Charles Nebel, who published his notes on the site, visited the site.

Joseph Garcia Payón made the first archaeological excavation from 1943 to 1963. The Mexican National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) made a restoration of the site in 1980.

Each year is celebrating “La Cumbre Tajín“, a cultural festival that connects those pleople who living in big cities on the planet with the cultures and ethnicities of Veracruz, Mexico and world.

Through a world-class event, which coincides with the spring equinox, Summit Tajín to disclose the natural and cultural attractions of Veracruz, shows the richness and traditions of ancient cultures alive on the planet, with a joyful and creative people as totonaca host.

The Christmas in Mexico is wonderful, the people, the dinner with the family, all greet, you can see in the markets selling crafts, gifts, food, piñatas, etc.

We drink punch (ponche) prepared with non-alcoholic fruit of the season (cane, orange, lime, tejocotes).

Depending on where you live can changes a little bit, but all they have the same purpose. Remember the birth of the child Jesus.

Las Posadas

Posada is a kind of representation of the Virgin and Joseph and when they needed a place to sleep (this is call it posada) and that place the baby Jesus born.

So a group of people will walk from house to house singing something like this:

In the name of heaven,
Os pido posada …

Until they reach the house that will give the feast and accepted, starting the piñatas, food, music, and games.

Las Piñatas

Another element key is The Piñata, with singing of the litany song, traditional games, sweets and beverages of the season.

The piñatas are rooted in the colonial era when Mexican Franciscan friars seeking to replace the pagan festivals. The piñata represents the sin, as it always piñata is colorful and pretty, and we were introduced sin into the world as something attractive. A piñata must be hit with a stick, what means the strength that God gives us in his gospel to combat the sin, the person who sticks the piñata is blindfolded and must therefore guess where is the piñata, what means that in the world we are going to “blind” against the sin. At the moment that the piñata breaks, fall fruits and sweets that are within it, symbolizing the premiosy blessings that God gives us to overcome the sin.

Los Aguinaldos

Also there are the bonuses (aguinaldos), can be divided into the Posadas and In Christmas Night and can be prepare with candies of the season (collation), walnuts, pineapple, tejocotes, peanuts and sometimes cookies, and distributed to all participants.

La Rama (the branch) en Veracruz

Then we are going from house to house singing-wondering if the family wanted to hear whether the branch and said that yes, sang and gave us money. Usually we did before they started the lodges, December 16, but sometimes we continued beyond that date.

The problem is that I do not remember the lyrics of the song. I know that changed depending on who sang it. Sometimes it was longer, sometimes more cortita (short), but there were some parts that always stays.

About the song La Rama, this is the lyrics of the song:

SPANISH

Naranjas y limas
limas y limones
más linda la Virgen que todas las flores

En un portalito
de cal y de arena
nació Jesucristo
por la Nochebuena

Zacatito verde
lleno de rocío
el que no se tape
se muere de frío

Y dependiendo de si se le da algo a la rama se canta:

Ya se va la rama
muy agradecida
porque en esta casa fue bien recibida
Pasen buenas noches, así les deseamos
pasen buenas noches, nosotros nos vamos.

O si no le toca nada a la rama, pues…

Ya se va la rama
muy desconsolada
porque en esta casa no le dieron nada
Pasen buenas noches, así les deseamos…

**************************************************

ENGLISH

Oranges and limes
Limes and lemons
More Beautiful Virgin compare with all flowers

In a little house of
Lime and sand
Jesus Christ was born
In Christmas night

Green little grass
Filled with dew
Who doesn’t keep warm
Can die from cold

And depending on if something is given to La Rama (the branch) is sung:

It’s leaving the branch
Very grateful
Because this house was well received
Spend goodnight and wish them
Goodnight pass, we are going now.

Or if you do not get anything in La Rama (the branch) because …

It’s leaving the branch
Very bereaved
Because in this house did not give anything
Spend good evening, we wish them well …

I would like to clarify that I was born in the state of Veracruz, where there is such a tradition as in Yucatan, and is conducted in the days before Christmas. After the Christmas presents in Veracruz another tradition very similar but with a different song, which is called ‘The Old Man’ (El Viejo), where children masquerade of an elderly bearded white cane and bent, representing the past year.

A few days ago were the presentation of Mascots 2010.They are original but rare at the same time. They are 3 Mascots with the names of Sumi Quatchi Miga but definitely I love the virtual mascot with the name of mukmuk who helps the others 3 guys to do something, I don’t know exactly what kind of help but is like the guy how does the boring job like buy tickets or make the line to the mountain.

However the entire mascots are fabulous and fantastic, I took some pictures with them, I felt like kid in that moment. (isn’t truth, but Sumi reminds me of the typical chihuahua dog , because, at first figured it was a chihuahua dog… jajaja)

Mukmuk

Also with this event my memory was refreshing old moments of my life. And I remember the Mascot for the Copa Mundial de Fútbol de 1986 (Football World Cup 1986). And guess who was it? Or what was it? Well, The mascot was a Jalapeno yeap! I typical chile from Mexico, also if you didn’t know there is a place in Mexico with the name of Xalapa and the people who lives there are call them “jalapenos” and is truth. His name is Pique, Pique comes from picante (spicy).

Pique

I was searching online but I cant find who created this logo or mascot, just I found on a document and said that the Mexicans felt that the mascot was an insult but with time they change the point of view and also the mascot was one of the famous mascots and icons at that time.

And just for a little comment, yes!, at work sometimes I hate that everybody think that I eat everything with jalapenos or another kind of chiles, I know that my culture has a wonderful spicy food but that doest mean that I can drink jalapeno’s milkshake or jalapeno’s cake! Hello! Sometimes you cant get tired with this, but please if you are friend of some Mexican stop to compare with a jalapeno, believe me, makes me feel uncomfortable.

Artifex Vite, Artifex Sui

These word are in Latin language and is my motto, everything what I’m doing now is everything what I’m building for my future and my destiny.

“Artifex Vitae, Artifex sui” means “architect of the life, architect of the destiny” and is one poem from Amado Nervo’s introspective poetry, characterized by deep religious feeling and simple forms, reflects his struggle for self-understanding and inner peace in an uncertain world.

Most of his verses deal with his inward world, where he sought peace from external torments. His major collections include Serenidad (1914), Elevación (1916), and Plenitud (1918). Nervo was a diplomat for several years and died during his service as Mexican minister to Uruguay.

Amado Nervo

At peace (En Paz) is one of my favorites and I know this poem since elementary school. Here are the words of Amado Nervo in English and Spanish.

At Peace

Artifex vitae, artifex sui

Close to my sundown, I bless you, life,
Because you gave me no false hope
I never suffered impossibly
Or worked without hope of reward.

And now that I have beaten my path to its end I see,
That, truly, I was the architect of my destiny
And I know that, if indeed, I was able to extract taste, the honey and the bitterness of things,
Then it was only because I put the honey and bitterness into them in the first place.
Whenever I planted rose bushes, I always harvested roses.

And yes, after my flourishing, winter will follow,
But you didn’t promise me an eternal spring.
And, yes, it’s true, our troubled nights were long,
But you never promised us only the good nights
And some nights were so serene and blessed.

I loved, I was loved, the sun caressed my face.
Life, what do you owe me? Nothing! Life you and I are at peace.

*********** **** *********

En paz

Artifex vitae, artifex sui

Muy cerca de mi ocaso, yo te bendigo, vida,
porque nunca me diste ni esperanza fallida,
ni trabajos injustos, ni pena inmerecida;

porque veo al final de mi rudo camino
que yo fui el arquitecto de mi propio destino;

que si extraje la miel o la hiel de las cosas,
fue porque en ellas puse hiel o mieles sabrosas:
cuando planté rosales, coseché siempre rosas.

Cierto, a mis lozanías va a seguir el invierno:
¡mas tú no me dijiste que mayo fuese eterno!

Hallé sin duda largas noches de mis penas;
mas no me prometiste tú sólo noches buenas;
y en cambio tuve algunas santamente serenas…

Amé, fui amado, el sol acarició mi faz.
¡Vida, nada me debes! ¡Vida, estamos en paz!

Also, surfing on line I found a pdf document with a lot of Quotations, one of them says:

“The true love makes miracles, because itself already is the largest miracle..”
“El amor verdadero hace milagros, porque el mismo es ya el mayor milagro..”

So, if you have time read the poetry of this author from Mexico.

One day my manager tell me about how diferentes government had been killed people who think different and desire a change.

I ask him if he knows something about “La masacre de Tlatelolco” he didn’t know, but for almost all the Mexican this day was really bad, a lot of innocent people were killed.

The Tlatelolco massacre occurred on October 2, 1968 at the Plaza of the Three Cultures in the neighborhood of Tlatelolco, Mexico City. This event was a military repression organized directly by the Mexican government against student groups critical of the political system who headed the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI) . It has failed to gain clarity on the number of dead: Some estimates suggest hundreds (over 300 people), but almost all government sources reported an estimate of between 40 and 50. Dozens of people were injured and several arrested. The official source at the time reported more than 100 dead. The Mexican government has never revealed the number of deaths, although it is known that was counted, and it is believed that was never disclosed.

Political and historians agree that this movement and its terrible end and led to a permanent and more critical and active opposition to the government in public universities, as well as to nurture the development of urban and rural “guerrillas” in the seventies, pushing below the legal and institutional change from within the same scheme through the Political Reform in 1977 to achieve the gradual democratization of the country.

More info:

http://historicaltextarchive.com/sections.php?op=viewarticle&artid=161

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tlatelolco_Massacre

Books and movies

• On October 2 is narrated in the film Red dawn (Rojo Amanecer 1989), directed by Jorge Fons, which revolves around a middle-class family living in Building Chihuahua place where, according to various sources, the scuffle began. It was filmed in 1989 and starring Hector Bonilla, Maria Rojo, the brothers Demián and Bruno Bichir and Eduardo Palomo among others, but it was not until 1990 that allowed its display on the grounds of violent content and subersivos for some forms of thinking
• The book Night of Tlatelolco (1971) by Elena Poniatowska is a journalistic work on which is collected testimony from several witnesses and participants in this event.
• The novel The days and years, Luis Gonzalez de Alba, recounts the author’s personal experience (then a member of CNH) before and after the conflict.
• These events are satirizados in the book of Rene Aviles New Utopia and the guerrillas, published in 1973.
• Book of Paco Ignacio Taibo II, “‘68″, New York: Seven Stories Press, 2003 ISBN 1-58322-608-7.
• The novel “Regina: two in October not forgotten” by Antonio Velasco Pineapple.
• The Tlatelolco Massacre in Mexico by Ronald L. Ecker (English).
• The Swiss film maker Richard Dindo Neither forgiveness or oblivion … [1]
• The novel Square Luis Spota tells a fictional story of the murder of a student.
• The small book Night of Santo Tomas, written by Dr. Igor de Leon, tells a little of the facts disclosed in the 68 Mexican, taking blood and fire of Helmet St. Thomas.
• A man who was in the Mexican army fled to the United States to forget the bloody encounter and the faces of the people, was also part of the staff responsible for throwing dozens of students dead sea.

A land of myths and legends, of contrasts and wealth…

The State of Veracruz, medullary point in the history of Mexico, the birthplace of our “mestiza” nation, is located in the eastern part of Mexico. Its territorial extension is 72815 km2 and has a long coastline of no less than 800 km long, from the mouth of the Pánuco River until Coatzacoalcos-, along which you will find incomparable beaches, lagoons and rivers. This begin summing up its strengths from its prosperous eastern end, bathed by the Gulf of Mexico, and continue with the mention of the magnificent natural landscapes: forests, plains, forests, mountain ranges… and even the imposing Citlaltépelt, crowned white snows. Definitely Mother Nature was quite generous with Port of Veracruz.

Perhaps why Veracruz witnessed the birth and blossoming of the mother of all Mesoamerican cultures, the Olmec, whose roots can be traced back to several hundred years before Christ. The footprints of this culture, along with the Huastecos and totonacas, dotted also by the influence Nahuatl, can be seen in buildings such as the sublime Temple of the chimneys, the Pyramid of the Niches, the Templo Mayor and “Adoratorio” (Worship) of the God of Wind.

And their privileges continued … Later Veracruz became the crucible of miscegenation and syncretism of indigenous and European cultures, to the amalgam that he was later added black men stolen from Africa. Thus, Veracruz was becoming what it is today: a land of myths and legends, of contrasts and wealth…

Of course, the Colony also left their mark, even deeper than the previous one, with gems such as the Baluarte Santiago, the Cathedral of Jalapa or the shrine of the Virgen del Carmen, to mention a few, but and let it clear, no matter where you can be, Veracruz always have somewhere to visit and admire, whether a natural attraction, archaeological or colonial.

However, the outcome of the interesting developments in the state of Veracruz has been a population with an unmatched character cheerful, friendly, hospitable and “fiestero” (who loves excesses, parties). Since you put one foot in Veracruz, The “jarochos” will make you truly feel at home and before you know them, you will be giving a few dance steps. The first thing you will discover when you are in the center of this rich state will be their rich folk and as soon you get hungry, you will find out the reason for the fame of Veracruz cuisine, full of the most delicious dishes, a result of the merger of the kitchen Spanish with the indigenous and based on fish and seafood.

The atmosphere of jubilation envelops you anywhere you visit, starting with Papantla, where flying perform its unique ritual, which ends in a dance that surca wind … On the beaches you willsee the typical activities of people, which is the counterpoint of the waves … In the Plaza de Armas of the Port of Veracruz you could see couples dancing with panache to rhythm danzon … The color and majesty of colonial cities will happily welcome to you … And the Carnaval or Carnival (like the mardi gras) !, Ideal pretext to turn themselves in body and soul to the chatter, relax, laugh, music and festivity.

The true is that Veracruz is is a place without any comparison, so that the experience of visiting simply can not be replaced with anything … It’s something you have to live, to be able to say that we live.

In Mexico we say :

“Veracruz es el estado que lo tiene todo” 

“Veracruz is the state that has everything”

At least 20,000 people were forced to seek emergency shelter.

Over 1,000,000 residents have been affected

Tabasco is a state of Mexico, located in the southeast of the country, has 1989 969 in habitants, divided into 24 578 km ². The capital is the city of Villahermosa.

The state runs on the coastal plain of the Gulf of Mexico, with the southern portion on the northern highlands of Chiapas. Bordered in the north, the Gulf of Mexico and the state of Campeche, on the south by the state of Chiapas, on the east by the state of Campeche and the Republic of Guatemala and on the west by the state of Veracruz.

The flood

The flood of Tabasco and Chiapas in 2007 was an event occurred from October 28 this year in the Mexican states of Tabasco and Chiapas, because of historical floods in the rivers that run both entities. The greatest damage occurred in the capital tabasqueña, the city of Villahermosa and municipalities in the north end of Chiapas.

At least 20,000 people were forced to seek emergency shelter. Over 1,000,000 residents have been affected

Tabasco have evacuated hospitals, municipalities and settlements intact, no drinking water, electricity and telephones are failing, there are hundreds of missing and dead drowned because they did not want to leave his home and forcibly took the water, destroying vehicles and people, and still lack the worst, we have a dam near here in the limits of chiapas and Tabasco and is working to pull out 2000 meter cubic of water per second (Imagine that amount of water) which drops into the gulf of México, passing by the forces rivers of Tabasco, which all have been overwhelmed, I do not know if you conoscan villahemosa but this between two major rivers, grijalva and carrizal which are pouring all his cause to the city.

more information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Tabasco_flood
http://www.flickr.com/groups/tabascodisaster/
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=3&art_id=nw20071104085605843C732106&set_id=1

DONATE NOW!!!

http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Fundraising
http://altius.org/tabasco/dona.html
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=7238470937
http://www.pazes.org/

give! Tabasco needs us! porfavor 

Day of the Dead in Mexico, celebration occurs on November 1 and 2, represents a combination of Pre-Hispanic, Christian devotion and traditions and beliefs. As a consequence of this fusion, the celebration comes to life as an unique Mexican Tradition.

The day of the Dead is so wonderful and meaningful rituals part of the Mexican tradition where you can see the respect and devoted of Mexicans with the dead people and the people who one day the love them so much.

The tradition is represented with “The altar” where the Mexicans believe that the dead comes to eat and see them. Usually on the altar the people put food and things that the dead likes before. For example, my aunt, who died 5 years ago liked cigars, as well as the day of the dead, I offer with ofrendas, or offerings, a box of cigars to her.

I feel that the day of dead it’s a good way to remember all beloved ones in the family who pass another life. Also for the kids is a friendly form to don’t be afraid to the death.The typical bread in this day is “Dead Bread” taste really good and always is enjoy it with hot chocolate, mmm… delicious.

Also is a tipical flower that I call flower of the dead, I found in wikipedia a goof explanation about this: “the flower is orange marigold called “cempasúchil”, originally named cempoalxochitl, Nahuatl for “twenty (i.e., many) flowers”, in modern Mexico this name is often replaced with the term “Flor de Muerto”, Spanish for “Flower of the Dead”. These flowers are thought to attract souls of the dead to the offerings.

I love this tradition but I feel sad sometimes because the influence from EEUU and the Halloween staff had been killing and erasing the tradition for the new generation (kids and young people) because they see more attractive the idea to have a custom and go somewhere and ask for candies than offer or remember people who is dead.

It’s incredible but a lot of people think that in Mexico we speak “mexican” (It’s almost the same mistake when some people say that in Brasil Speak brasilian) well, for everyone who never cares about “international history” maybe they have this big mistake.

Mexico was conquered by Spain (España) so, it’s why we speak Spanish, also, you can say that we speak Spanish from Mexico because it’s a huge different. They have different way to express something or someone.

It should be mentioned that a friend of mine has a dictionary where the title is “learn Mexican Language” but I think the best way of that title should be “Learn Spanish Idioms from Mexico”. But when I saw that book, I can see that maybe is because there is confusion in the past.

Then to liberate the great unknown, in Mexico speaks Spanish.