las mananitas
At the beginning there were a few short speeches (by a couple of the teachers, all of whom are men) about appreciating our mothers, who gave us life, and fed us and loved us. It was sweet. Then a couple of students recited poems they wrote for their mothers. Then, the first dance was from Chiapas, 3 girls with big skirts and 3 boys with woven bags did their dance, and then the boys knelt down in a circle, the girls shielded them with their skirts, and when the music ended, the boys rose up with a shout and released 3 pigeons, one white, who immediately flew up into the rafters.
Then there were the pre-school and kindergarten kids, so cute in their little white blouses and flowered skirts and red headbands, the boys all in white. There was a lot of shaking and shimmying and spinning around. Our friend Octaviano’s son Aron, 16 dressed in a white shirt, tight black jeans, belt (with the oversized buckle), boots, and white sombrero, took the mike like a pro and sang Cielito Lindo, with lots of heart and hand gestures. Everyone like him so much, he did an encore – a bolero, smooth and romantic. His voice hasn’t totally finished changing yet, so every once in a while there was a squeak instead of a full throated sound. I loved it.”
Karen Hursh Graber writes “Here in Mexico, the month of May brings many holidays: workers’ Day (3rd), Cinco de Mayo (5th), Teachers Day (15th), and the day set aside to honor Mama, Mother’s Day, always celebrated on May10. Mexicans observe Dia de las Madres wholeheartedly and enthusiastically. Cynical comments about another “Hallmark holiday” and complaints about retailers’ ad campaigns are not heard here. Instead, the day is celebrated with flowers, presents, and special programs. School children proudly invite their mothers to plays, dances and recitals. Stores, movie theatres and supermarkets all give out little recuerdos, or remembrances, to the mothers who come in during the day. One of the most charming customs of all is that practiced in many Mexican churches, the early morning singing of Las Mañanitas.”
