Jalisco is Mexico, and September is
Full of Both to the brim!
One of the things about us “Jaliscienses” is that we are SO PROUD OF OUR MEXICAN HERITAGE!
 But how could we not be? When our state Jalisco holds the Protected Designation of Origin for our national drink, Tequila, that can only be produced in the town of Tequila and its Jalisco surroundings.
The Mexican Hat Dance or “Jarabe Tapatío” was born in our capital city of Guadalajara, her women’s eyes “Ojos Tapatíos” are known to drive us crazy.
We are also the prototype of the “Charro” the Mexican horseman, with his beautiful suit, hat and code of ethics. The Charro is not only a countryside way of life but also the center of the only national Mexican sport, the “Charreadas” in their custom-made rodeo to accommodate all the different phases of competitions going from high horse education performance to bull and bronco riding and lassoing and death pass at full speed from a tame horse to a bronco, and more..
 So when we talk about September being the month of Mexico, you may just feel like coming down to Vallarta, Guadalajara or any other town or city in Jalisco. They are all overflowing with Mexican spirit.
In my personal case it all started with my birthday, which went on for three days of celebrations. Then came “Charro Day” when all groups of charros with their horses, their children, their women, paraded through the streets of Puerto Vallarta accompanied by Mariachis. Please remember that a Mariachi is a musical group of about 7 to 12 elements including guitars, vihuela, trumpets, six-string bass, violins and a singer, all dressed in charro suits. We also have wonderful love songs usually performed by a strolling romantic trio, but that is a different story. A Mariachi is a Mariachi and Jalisco has the very best.
 Then came September 15 and 16; on the 15th, at 11pm we celebrate the “grito” (see PVMirror, September, Art & Culture, The “Scream” of Independence). Then the morning of the 16th we have a military parade. In touristic Puerto Vallarta people were moved by the sight of our military and their pacifist vocation helping communities when they are affected by disasters, they gave them a very emotional standing ovation.
Some towns continued to celebrate our independence on later days (see A Gorgeous Water Factory among the Clouds, PVMirror, this month). My September was going right with six party days so far but my friend Octavio spent part of the month at an Enduro Racing Motorbike Championship in Greece and he felt he had not had his share of Mexican celebration yet so we ended up going to the Campeonato Nacional de Escaramuza Charra in Tlajomulco, Jalisco of course, just outside Guadalajara.
 This was the National Championship of Female Charro Teams, each team is composed of eight girls and there were teams from all over Mexico. Because the “Escaramuza” is a very important, I would say fundamental element of a “Charreada”. There is no way I can describe here the beauty of those girls, their attire, the quality of their horses and their daring performances. There was one team from the “Rancho Los Olivos” that made my skin crawl, they are from, you guessed it, Jalisco. And just now I found a video of them on you tube, it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrkMWXpbowM
Even watching them in my laptop gets my heart racing every time. Imagine about two-hundred of the most beautiful and expert cowgirls, costumes and horses performing the most daring and highest skilled-maneuvers on horseback, man, what a treat!
Well I hope I can survive September in Jalisco because, as you can see, October promises to bring about lots of special things to Puerto Vallarta.
Make room in your agenda to come down, we’ll be happy to show you a great time! Email to a friend
Eduardo Rincón-Gallardo
E-mail: toureps@prodigy.net.mx
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