As a Mexcellent-American and a native of Southern California, this day is always a little funny for me. Even though Cinco de Mayo is a holiday we NEVER celebrated in my family when I was a kid, I really love that this country takes a day to celebrate Mexican culture, crafts, food and more! HOWEVER...even here in America's Finest City ("I can see Mexico from my house!") Cinco de Mayo celebrations often take a few, um, liberties.
Today is Mexican Independence Day (please tell me you knew it wasn't Cinco de Mayo), and this is also Hispanic Heritage Month!
I am so proud to live in a country that celebrates our diversity and I love learning from the cultures and traditions of my neighbors. I thought this video was the perfect way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, Los Lobos at the White House!
Stay tuned for a muy fun HHM craft project and giveaway, you're gonna love it!
Happy Father's Day everyone! Hope your dad is alive and well and that you are enjoying spending time with him. Or if not your dad, then your baby-daddy! We are postponing our own celebration a few days because our daughter has a very nasty stomach flu and is not in a partying kind of mood. But Father's Day can be whenever you make it! We'll just have to celebrate extra big-especially since my husband is the best (nacho) daddy ever! I got him this card on Etsy...
How cute is this? Seriously!
Because he is a GIGANTE Star Wars fan (he watched the dvds over and over again to calm his nerves while I was in labor with each of the kids) and he is the dad of a boy and a girl-just like Darth!
Join me and some of my favorite Latina Mom Bloggers for
“Celebrate Our Music” Twitter Party
You KNOW I'm a gigante music fan! One of my favorite things about this blog is the music some of you have shared with me. You know, the music that gets your day going, gets you out of the dumps or gets your butt off of the couch!
You know what I love about Cinco de Mayo? Aside from the food? And the margaritas?
By now most of us know that Cinco de Mayo is NOT Mexican Independence Day (I hope), but instead commemorates the Battle of Puebla, in which the Mexicans defeated the French who outnumbered them 2 to 1. You can read more about this momentous day at Wikipedia.
What I really love about this holiday is that it celebrates the fact that, even when the odds seem to be overwhelmingly against you, you can succeed. I'm also a big believer in celebrating all of your victories in life, however small.
And then, of course, there's the food. And the margaritas. And by margaritas I do not mean some slushy, sugary neon-yellow concoction served in a fishbowl. I mean something made with fresh ingredients, served on the rocks in a lady-sized glass.
Photo via Wikipedia
And by food, I do not mean Velveeta microwaved with a can of Rotel and poured over Tostitos. I mean carnitas. And perhaps? Nopales.
I know some people hate on Cinco de Mayo, saying it doesn't mean anything to "real" Mexicans, and that it's a completely American phenomenon-an excuse to get your party on after Spring Break is over. I prefer to think of it as an opportunity to celebrate the pepper that Mexican-Americans (and Hispanic-Americans in general) have added to the Great American Melting Pot.
And in the spirit of celebrating our "flavor" - my soundtrack for Cinco de Mayo is not mariachi music (which I love, don't get wrong!) but always the awesome Chicano Soul music recorded in the 50s, 60s and 1970s. Here's a perfect example of what I'm talking about-the Blendells' "Hispanicized" cover of Stevie Wonder's "La La La La La" As promised in the intro, it'll make you clap your hands, kick your feet, and as a matter of fact, it'll tear you up.
What will you be eating and drinking this Cinco de Mayo? What will you be listening to? And most importantly, what will you be celebrating?
Wishing you mucho love with extra cheese- Nacho Mama
Music has always been a big part of my life. Growing up, all my grandparents sang and/or played guitar at family gatherings, often joined by uncles and cousins. We have so many great singers in the family and just about everyone plays some kind of musical instrument. I myself played piano & clarinet but sadly did not inherit the "awesome pipes" gene. Le sigh.
In my childhood memories, there is always music in the background. My mom's parents sang beautiful songs together, like Ojos Negros, Piel Canela, in the kitchen while preparing sandwiches. My dad's father loved to sing rancheros, mariachi music and corridos at Sunday barbecues. And my dad and his brothers loved to play music from the "Chicano Soul" era that took place in LA in the 60s.
What, you never heard of it?
Chicano Soul crossed over into the mainstream a few times with groups like Cannibal and the Headhunters (Land of 1000 Dances), The Premiers and Thee Midnighters. My dad's brother Jess had been in the Chicano Soul group, The Mixtures, and we kids grew up hearing stories about how our Uncle Chuy had rocked the house at the Rainbow Gardens Ballroom, where The Mixtures were the house band. My grandfather was especially proud that his son (bottom center of the photo below, with the sax) appeared on TV, in the music show that broadcast live in LA from the Rainbow Gardens.
As you might have noticed from the photo, one of the groundbreaking features of The Mixtures was that they were an interracial group in a disctinctly non-interracial time. And from what I've heard, they brought the pepper to every party! I love listening to these records when I'm spending time with my young family, dancing and spinning to this joyful, raucous music. Of course, the Mixtures albums I've been playing all these years (that belonged to my dear late father) are scratched and badly worn by now. So I was ecstatic to learn that the complete recordings were being reissued and released this fall!
My dad and my Uncle, though not twins, shared the same birthday-November 20th, which is this Saturday. As I write this, my brand new copy of The Mixures: Stompin' at the Rainbow is on its way to my home (I ordered the LP but it's also available as a CD). It should arrive just in time for me to celebrate and remember our family's beautiful musical legacy.
Did your family have a creative legacy? Did they paint or write poetry? I'd love to hear about it!
Wishing you love with extra cheese, Nacho Mama
PS-If you'd like to see and hear a little of The Mixtures for yourself, check out their facebook page and this Youtube Video!
NOTE: My dear Uncle Chuy sadly lost his battle with cancer the day after Christmas 2010. There were many moving tributes to his memory, including this one. We will miss him very much.
