Mexican Cultural Symbolism: The Resounding Cry That Resonates
At the heart of the Houston Mariachi Festival, a tradition steeped in Mexican culture was celebrated with great fervor – the grito.
Isabel Darocha, a student at the University of Houston, shared her connection to the tradition. She has heard the grito at family gatherings and performs it when she feels the music. "It's about feeling the music and doing it when it feels right," she said.
Jose Longoria, the director of Mariachi Studies at the university and a mariachi performer since the age of 8, echoed Darocha's sentiments. For Longoria, the grito is significant in helping Mexicans identify themselves and unite them. He expressed a desire to preserve the grito, given its deep roots in Mexican culture.
Tina and Buddy Davila, also present at the festival, consider the grito a multi-generational experience. They expressed pride in seeing younger people participating in it. Mateo Puente, another student, felt cultural pride when he performed a grito, showcasing the Hispanic culture to others.
The grito, a Spanish word meaning yell, shout, or cry, is a sound heard in various settings within Mexican culture, from mariachi music to family gatherings and quinceañeras. It represents immense happiness or sadness in songs, depending on the singer's performance.
The tradition has political ties, as every year the president of Mexico re-enacts the moment when priest Miguel Hidalgo rang his church bell and gave the call to arms, starting the Mexican War of Independence in 1810.
Longoria's father and grandfather were also mariachi performers, passing down the tradition to him. The Davilas, speaking at the festival, expressed their pride in the grito tradition, considering it a vital part of their heritage.
The grito, performed using a certain part of the voice, not the chest, is often emotional. It requires a deep connection with the music and the culture it represents. As the Houston Mariachi Festival showcased, the grito tradition continues to thrive, carrying with it the pride, passion, and unity of the Mexican community.
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