Fandango Friday – Cinco de Mayo Celebration!

On Cinco de Mayo, 1862, a feebly armed, heavily outnumbered Mexican army, formed largely by determined indigenous forces carrying machetes and sticks, took it out on the invading forces of Napolean III and his French Empire, and won. In other words — they RESISTED. Mexico, as a newly independent nation, was barely 41 years old at the time.

Benito Juárez (pictured and quoted left) was the first indigenous president of Mexico and was the president at the time of the Battle of Puebla (the battle that was fought on May 5, 1862 in Mexico against the French invasion). He is the most beloved president of Mexico and is often likened to Abraham Lincoln in terms of the respect he carries in the history of his country. This is one of his most famous quotes and describes his diplomacy.

Everyone is welcome to watch and listen to this tradition of son jarocho music and dance to celebrate Cinco de Mayo! If you want to join in the jam session, please bring your jaranas, dancing shoes, and voices all warmed up!

FANDANGO FRIDAY
Friday, May 5, 2017
7-11pm
La Peña Cultural Center
3105 Shattuck Avenue
Berkeley, CA
FREE ADMISSION – donations accepted

Los Cilantros will be open for dinner and refreshments, beer, micheladas, wine and sangria!

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En Español:
El dia Cinco de Mayo de 1862, un ejército mexicano débilmente armado y muy numeroso, formado en gran parte por determinadas fuerzas indígenas que llevaban machetes y palos, sacó a las fuerzas invasoras de Napoleón III y su imperio francés y ganó.

O sea– que RESISTIERON. México, como una nación recién independiente, tenía apenas 41 años de edad en ese momento …

Benito Juárez fue el primer presidente indígena de México y fue el presidente en el momento de la Batalla de Puebla (la batalla que se libró el 5 de mayo de 1862 en México contra la invasión francesa). Él es el presidente más querido de México y es a menudo comparado a Abraham Lincoln en términos del respeto que lleva en la historia de su país. Esta es una de sus citas más famosas y describe su diplomacia.

Traiga sus jaranas, zapatos de baile, y voces todo calentado – usted sabe el taladro – ¡hagamos esto!
¡Todos son bienvenidos a ver y escuchar esta tradición de música y danza de son jarocho!

FANDANGO VIERNES
Viernes, 5 de mayo de 2017
7-11pm
Centro Cultural La Peña
3105 Shattuck Avenue
Berkeley, CA
ADMISIÓN GRATUITA – donaciones aceptadas

¡Los Cilantros estarán abiertos para la cena, refrescos, cerveza, micheladas, vino y sangria!

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Son Jarocho is a lively traditional art form from the southern Mexican state of Veracruz that sits on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.

It is a lyrical and danceable music genre that formed in the melding of three cultures: Arabic-Spanish, African and indigenous Mexican.  It is at the same time highly improvised and highly structured—filled with complex poly-rhythms and musical dialogue in its dance, song, poetry and music.  The basic instrumentation of the son jarocho includes the jarana jarocha, guitarra de son (both guitar-like instruments) and zapateado (percussive footwork).  Regional variations include the harp and various percussive instruments such as quijada, pandero, marimbol or cajón, with the latter two instruments being contemporary additions.

On a communal level, the son jarocho is used to celebrate various life occasions and often speaks of love (including courtship), happiness and the beauties of life as well as the hardships including sadness, loss and death.  Hundreds of years old, the son jarocho is a living, contemporary art form that continues to evolve with time and under the influences of trans-cultural exchange and inter-generational dialogue.