What is the Game of Loteria?

Lotería is a board game that has entertained Mexican families for centuries. Essentially, it is the same as Bingo, but Lotería uses images instead of letters and numbers.

The game of Lotería originated in Italy in the Middle Ages, from there it traveled to Spain and later to Mexico, at the end of the 17th century. The game consists of 54 different cards and an indefinite number of tables, each with 16 images. Before the game begins, each player is given a table, and the person in charge of naming each card is called gritón or screamer. The gritón names card ramdonly as he draws them from a bag. Subsequently, each player marks the cards with a bean or grain of corn if it appears on his or her table after it’s called out. And just as in Bingo, the winner is the player who fills in his table first and shouts “Lotería!”.

It is worth mentioning that antique Lotería cards were hand-painted and represent images characteristic of the culture of the country of origin, in this case, Mexico.

Taking the themes of traditional lotería cards, Bertha Cuéllar painted her own interpretation with a very personal touch.

Traditional Loteria Cards

 Playing Lotería, early XX Century

José Guadalupe Posada – Click to enlarge

La Sandía – Viva México, Lotería

One of the most important cultural venues in Mexico City is without a doubt,  “La Casa Azul” or Blue House, located in the iconic neighborhood of Coyoacán. 

More than half a century ago, this house was the home of the iconic Mexican painter Frida Kahlo and her husband, the also famous artist, Diego Rivera. Today La Casa Azul, more than a museum, is a tribute to the lives of these enigmatic painters. The cobalt blue of its exterior walls, which gives it the name “Casa Azul”, has been the same since its construction, and famous personalities like sculptor Henry Moore and the politician/revolutionary Leon Trotsky were guests of Frida and Diego in this house. This enigmatic place not only houses works by both artists, but also has pre-Hispanic pieces, antique dolls, personal items, and very recognizable dresses that belonged to Frida herself. You only need to go through its rooms or get lost in its gardens to perceive the passion that Frida and Diego had for everything Mexican.

One of the most important pieces of La Casa Azul, and the latest work by Frida Kahlo, is a still life of watermelons with a blue background called “Viva La Vida”. It is said that eight days before her death, Frida wrote: “Viva la Vida, Coyoacán 1954 México” on one of the watermelons, adding the final touch to her last work.

What makes this fact fascinating is that Frida wrote this phrase even though she suffered a tram accident when young, for which she underwent more than 20 surgeries. This incident marked her life with tremendous pain and suffering. Unquestionably, this phrase was the echo of Frida’s spirit during her last days and at the same time a brave affirmation of love for life, despite so much grief.

Bertha Cuéllar Aguilar made an interpretation of this painting, which she named “La Sandia” or “The Watermelon”. In this work, Bertha wrote the words “Viva México, Lotería”, since for her, this painting, and the 32 others that are part of her interpretation of the Game of Lotería, are a cultural journey throughout Mexico. 

Below you will find explanations of each… Enjoy the journey!

​

Alebrijes

Alebrijes sculptures of imaginary beings that fuse different physiological elements characteristic of insects, mammals, birds, and reptiles. These very imaginative, surrealist creations are made of cardboard and paper, which are held together by a wire structure, and painted with very vibrant colors and distinctive patterns.

There are many versions of the origins of the alebrijes. However, one of the most credible asserts that in the 1950’s, it was the Mexican painter José Gómez Rosas, who organized and decorated the Masked Balls of The Academy of San Carlos, who commissioned Pedro Linares to make a series of imaginary creatures to decorate the parties. 

After the Masquerade Balls stopped being celebrated in the 60’s, Pedro Linares dedicated himself for more than forty years to molding alebrijes. Subsequently, in 1990, at the age of 84, Maestro Pedro  Linares received the National Award for Science and Arts in the category of Popular Arts and Traditions.

Árboles de la Vida

Metepec, about 60 km from Mexico City, is the birthplace of one of the oldest artistic interpretations in Mexico: Arboles de la Vida or Trees of Life. These clay figures are part of an artisan tradition that dates back to pre-Hispanic times.

Present in most of the world’s mythologies, Trees of Life are full of symbolism. Originally, these clay sculptures represented the biblical scene of the Garden of Eden. However, over the years, Los Árboles de la Vida have distanced themselves from only including religious themes to be decorated with numerous decorative elements such as flowers, suns, fruits, human figures, and even skeletons.

It is worth mentioning that every year the Municipality of Metepec organizes “The National Pottery and Ceramics Contest: Tree of Life” to celebrate this tradition and consequently promote its dissemination. However, the high demand for these trees has led to the importation of fakes made in China. Without a doubt, this fact directly threatens the modus vivendi of Metepec artisans and the continuity of this tradition. Nevertheless, given this unfortunate situation, El Árbol de la Vida was registered as an original trademark of Metepec.

If you buy an Arbol de la Vida, please make sure that it was made in Metepec!

Los Tenangos

Among all the decorative textile traditions of Mexico, the richest as to cultural and ethnic identity is probably Tenangos of the State of Hidalgo.
Made by the Otomi people, Tenangos require an enormous effort, dedication, and patience since their elaboration can take up to 10 months.
Interestingly, these beautiful fabrics tell of the daily life and events of the Otomi communities. In other words, the tenangos not only give life to daily scenes of flora, fauna but also recount religious events, festivals, and carnivals. To understand tenangos, it is important to outline that in not-too-distant times, illiteracy was very common among the Otomi, and for that reason, tenangos became not only a mean of expression but also a way to preserve traditions. 

Currently, these embroideries are used to decorate all kinds of products such as bags, pillows, bedspreads, and dresses. Also, Otomi tenangos have become one of the most recognized Mexican textiles worldwide, and one can find these patterns in garments made by the most prestigious European fashion designers.

​

The Virgin of Guadalupe and the US-Mexico Border

One of the most fervent devotions of Catholicism worldwide is the one that the Mexican people feel for their patron saint, the Virgin of Guadalupe. However, veneration for the virgin is not only practiced on Mexican soil, this custom has traversed the northern border, along with Mexican migrants crossing to the United States.

Unfortunate as it is, many Mexicans decide to cross the border for purely economic or, much more recently, escaping from drug violence and rampant corruption. As they begin their journey, these migrants ask the Virgin of Guadalupe, not only to help them find work on the other side of the border but also that one day they can be reunited with their families back in Mexico. In fact, outside the migrant house in the border cities of Nogales, Tecate, and Reynosa, there are images of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Very clearly, these portraits provide an opportunity for introspection for migrants before crossing the border in search of a very uncertain future.

Faced with the drama of the migratory phenomenon between Mexico and the United States, one must not forget that the message of the Virgin of Guadalupe is one of fraternity, reconciliation, and justice, universal values of all peoples. We must always remember that borders are made by men and that the Virgin unconditionally loves all human beings equally, regardless of their nationality or race.

​

Typical Dresses from the State of Tabasco

Mexico is one of the richest nations as far as culture and traditions . This can be explained by the fact that different states of the Mexican Republic have their very unique identity traits, such as art, food, dance, music, and clothing.

Among the most colorful traditional outfits in Mexico are the women’s dresses from the state of Tabasco. These beautiful garments have won numerous national contests for typical regional clothing. Women from Tabasco proudly wear these garments in events such as religious ceremonies, galas, festivals, dances, and fairs.

Made in very light fabrics, given the warm climate of Tabasco, these dresses are traditionally composed of white, oval-necked, shoulder-length blouses, which have tulip motifs on a dark background. Likewise, the women who wear these garments carry a shawl on their backs and arms together with a decorative flower in their ear.

One of the most recognized cultural icons of Mexico worldwide is unquestionably the popular piñata. However, piñatas are not endemic to Mexico, the piñata was born in China, it was Marco Polo who brought piñatas from China to Italy, and it was in Italy that they were baptized with the name “pignatta”. Afterward, they were taken to Spain, and from there to Mexico in the 17th century.

 The Mexican piñata, as we know it today, is made using a clay pot to which 7 spikes are attached. According to popular custom, piñatas are filled with candy and fruit and then hung from a rope. The participant in charge of breaking the piñata is blindfolded and rotated 33 times on its own axis to make him dizzy. Once disoriented, the challenge is for him to break the piñata with a wooden stick.

Very interestingly, the piñata’s shapes, colors, and practices are all full of catholic symbolism, and was during  the colonial period by spanish priest to promote evangelization. For example, the piñata’s spikes represent the 7 deadly sins and the stick with which one hits it implies the force by which evil is defeated. Additionally, the fact of being blindfolded denotes an act of blind faith in God. The 33 turns represent the number of years that Jesus Christ was on earth, and the disorientation caused by the turns implies the confusion of the soul in a world full of sins. Additionally, the bright colors with which the piñatas are decorated symbolize the temptations of the devil, and lastly the sweets represent the riches poured out from the kingdom of heaven, reward for defeating evil, or in this case, breaking the piñata.

El Mariachi

What Mexican hasn’t sung, after taking a shot of tequila or two, to the tune of a mariachi? The presence of a mariachi is almost mandatory in all kinds of celebrations, such as weddings or birthdays. However, the word mariachi doesn’t derive from the Spanish languaje but from French. It is said that during the French invasion of Mexico the 19th century, gallic soldiers began to refer to the music played at Mexican weddings as mariachi, which is a mutation of the word “mariage”, which means wedding in French.

Like many other Mexican traditions, the Mariachi is a fusion of indigenous and Spanish customs. In fact, musical groups that preceded the mariachis come from Cocula in the state of Jalisco, and date back to the precolonial times. It is said that when Spanish priests, along with the conquistadors,  arrived in Colula, they realized how easy it was for the locals to reproduce melodies. Brilliantly,  they decided to merge the shells and clay flutes used by the indigenous people with European instruments such as violins and guitars. Furthermore, the priests promoted the use of music to evangelize by encouraging the indigenous people to play music as a vehicle to express their devotion to the Virgin Mary.

Today, Mariachis have international reach, and in places as far away as Japan and South Africa, oddly enough, one can find mariachis in local languages. Furthermore, in 2011, UNESCO unanimously voted for the mariachi to be recognized as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

Frida Kahlo’s Portraits of  and her Relationship with Diego Rivera

Frida Kahlo is unquestionably the Mexican artist with the most international recognition. Among her most famous works are her self-portraits, which tell a very tragic personal story. Amidst these is an oil painting entitled “Thorns and Hummingbird”, made in 1940. Probably one of the most recurring elements in Frida’s work, which is also found in this painting, are thorns. Art historians have concluded that Frida’s thorns represent the very stormy relationship she had with her also famous husband and artist Diego Rivera. It should be mentioned that Frida painted this piece just after her divorce from Diego, knowing that Diego had been unfaithful with numerous women, including Cristina Kahlo, yes Frida’s sister. 

Without a doubt, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera are one of the most controversial, scandalous, and atypical couples in art history. They were together for 25 years and married, and divorced, twice. Unquestionably,  their relationship was plagued by unions, disunions, suffering, and betrayal. “I have had two serious accidents in my life, the first was when a tram ran over me, and the other was Diego” (Frida Kahlo).

Everyone knows that roses symbolize love, and according to a Turkish proverb, thorns are endured for the love of roses. Perhaps Frida endured way too many thorns.  “La Rosa” is a tribute to Frida Kahlo’s work and the sometimes turbulent nature of love. 

​​

In any bazar in Mexico, one can find a wide variety of handmade toys, including baleros, matracas, yo-yos, loterias, and of course… trompos. However, tropos, or spinning tops, are not endemic to Mexico, since their history is as old as mankind. Cavemen learned to live together and consequently play together, and hence they also spun any object they could to amuse themselves. In fact, the earliest records of spinning tops or trompos date back to 4,000 B.C.!

 Mexican trompos are made of guava or mesquite wood and can be distinguished by their colorful horizontal stripes. It is worth mentioning that every year, “The Popular Toy Contest” is held at the Museum of the Mexican Popular Toys in the City of San Miguel de Allende. This competition serves to distinguish the best handmade creations and promote the use of handmade toys in contrast to their plastic factory-made counterparts.

Chihuahua Dog

Possibly one of the most famous and endearing dog breeds in the world is the beloved Chihuahua. This observant and protective dog, with big eyes is originally from Mexico, and it is considered to be one of the oldest dog breeds in the world. Although there are several hypotheses about the origin of this breed, the most common assumption is that they are descendants of the techichi, the companion dog of the Toltecs, a pre-Columbian culture that ruled the present-day state of Hidalgo. However, it is appropriate to mention that engravings and sculptures of this type of dog have also been found in the ruins of both Mayan and Aztec civilizations.

The Chihuahua became popular in the 19th century when American visitors to the border state of Chihuahua acquired them and named them precisely Chihuahua. Also in the 19th century, this breed achieved intercontinental recognition when Carlota, wife of Maximilian of Habsburg, Emperor of Mexico, introduced it to Europe.

Talavera from The State of Puebla

One of the richest and most recognized artisan creations of Mexico is undoubtedly Talavera, from the State of Puebla. Talavera distinguished itself by its patterns and the use of metallic cobalt blue and slightly milky white. These artisan creations combine utility and beauty, since we can find all kinds of items made of talavera, such as plates, jugs, pots, vases, and tiles.

Talavera is a process that combines different artisan trends originating from various regions of the world. For example, the use of glazed ceramic, characteristic of Talavera, actually comes from imperial China. It is believed that Muslims copied this craft from the Chinese and introduced it to the Iberian Peninsula in the 15th century. In reality, the term “Talavera” comes from the town of Talavera de la Reina in Toledo, Spain. During the Spanish colonization of Mexico, pottery masters from that Spanish town settled in Puebla, because that region had a wide availability of materials necessary for pottery production. Those techniques were thereafter taught to local indigenous and thus Puebla became the most important center of pottery production in Colonial Mexico.

The manufacturing, decoration, and enameling procedures used today in elavoration of Talavera are the same as those taught during the colonial period. Consequently, Talavera and its manufacturing techniques were declared an intangible cultural heritage of humanity in 2019 by The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, also known as UNESCO.

​​

Tin Hearts, Little Miracles

One oldest symbols of the Catholic devotion of the Mexican people are the brass hearts known as Milagritos or little miracles. These small tin figurines are representations of the sacred heart and are commonly made in conjunction with crowns, daggers, thorns, or fire. Milagritos are made of tinplates, which are struck very delicately with a chisel, thus creating its relief, and finally painted or covered with gold leaf.

The name milagrito comes from the fact that these hearts are used to ask for a miracle and thus ensure that it is fulfilled. Likewise, they are also used as a symbol of gratitude after their prayers have been heard, in other words, that the miracle has been granted. Milagritos dates back to the times of the conquest, when they were made of gold and precious stones. It is curious to mention that there are records where the Spanish conquistador of Mexico, Hernán Cortés, thanked the Virgin Mary for having survived a scorpion sting using a milagrito.

Emiliano Zapata 

Emiliano Zapata Salazar, also known as “El Caudillo del Sur” or “Southern Warlord,” was one of the most important military leaders of the Mexican Revolution (1910-1917). With his characteristic charro suit and large straw sombrero, Zapata was a man of deep convictions and righteous impulses, and is considered not only a national hero but also the most significant symbol of the Mexican Revolution.

Zapata witnessed firsthand the poverty generated by the economic policies of the administration of President Porfirio Díaz (1876-1911), characterized by the excessive exploitation of the poor for farming purposes. With the motto of “order and progress” the economic strategies of President Díaz led to the creation of large agricultural estates, owned by the elites, who exploited native indians for food production. Consequently, Emilano Zapatata took it upon himself to fight for the rights of the indigenous peoples over what he considered their land. The final result was that at the end of the conflict, Zapata signed “El Plan de Ayala” and its agrarian reform project, which can be summed up in one sentence …. “The land belongs to those who work it”. Words that today remain relevant in Mexican political discourse. 

Lucha Libre is a very precise mix between tragedy, circus, olympic sport, comedy, and theater. Considered in Mexico as a social phenomenon, which is only surpassed in popularity by soccer, Mexican Lucha Libre has a very defined style, thanks to its showy acrobatics, and a very distinct folklore. However, the two factors that differentiate Lucha Libre from wrestling practiced in other countries are its imaginative masks and the Lucha Libre films from the mid 20th Century.

Lucha libre in Mexico cannot be conceptualized without its  colorful and often extravagant masks, which have transcended the ring to become a symbol of Mexico. As far as Luchadores who have popularized the use of masks we would have to mention Blue Demon, Huracan Ramirez, and Mil Mascaras. And more recently Octagon, Atlantis and Tinieblas. However, one cannot talk about Lucha Libre without referencing El Santo.  Also nicknamed “El Enmascarado de Plata”, or the man with the silver mask, Rodolfo Guzmán Huerta, a.k.a. El Santo held the leading role in more that 50 films and his popularity is comparable to the one enjoyed by icons such as Pedro Infante or Cantinflas. In the ring, “El Santo” fought for 4 decades and never unmasked. 

Lastly, considered as cult classics, Lucha Libre films  from the 1960’s and 70’s combine genres such as action, science fiction, and horror. Luchadores are portrayed as superheroes who engage in battles to save the world against a variety of characters, including vampires, mummies, werewolves and even martians. Furthermore, Lucha Libre films have a very devoted  fan base in Mexico and Europe. In fact, the French National Cinematheque, which has the largest collection of Mexican Lucha Libre  films.

Sugar Skulls

Made primarily from sugar and egg whites through a purely artisanal process called alfeñique, Calaveritas de azúcar or sugar skulls are essential parts of Dia de Muertos Altars. Decorated with multicolored crowns, bows, flowers, and fretwork, sugar skulls are not only purely decorative, but, like countless other traditions in Mexico, they are full of symbolism and history.

Macabre enough, sugar skulls are related to human sacrifices practiced by the Aztecs before the arrival of the conquistadors, since it was usual for the Aztecs to include the skulls of people sacrificed in different rituals to honor their gods. Thankfully and not surprisingly, after the conquest and subsequent evangelization, the use of human skulls in rituals was prohibited, and to please the indigenous, these were replaced by symbolic candy skulls.

Mexico, One of the Most Diverse Countries in the World

Did you know that Mexico is one of the most diverse countries in the world, in terms of its cultural and historical heritage?
One of the tasks of the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture, or UNESCO, is to designate cultural assets, both tangible or intangible, which, due to their significance and history, are considered cultural heritage of humanity.
According to this organization, Mexico has 35 entries on the list of cultural assets designated as World Heritage, occupying sixth position worldwide, behind Italy, China, Germany, France, and Spain. Mexico is the first country on the American continent and the second non-European nation after China.
As far as tangible assets, which are made up of movable or immovable property, the list includes the Historic Center of Mexico City, Xochimilco, the pyramids of Teotihuacán, Chichén Itzá, and Uxmal, among others. In relation to intangible goods, which are made up of traditions, practices, and beliefs, the list includes the Day of the Día de Muertos festivities, Mariachis, and the delicious Mexican cuisine.

Mexico’s rich cultural heritage is the result of the fusion of two mighty empires. Spanish and Mesoamerican cultures were inebitably destined to collide but much more importantly, destined to enrich each other.