What is the Game of Loteria?

Lotería is a board game that has entertained Mexican families for centuries, regardless of their social status or education. This game is practically the same as Bingo, which is played in the United States of America; however,  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 afterward 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 each card as he randomly draws them from a cloth bag or tombola. Afterwards, 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 by the gritón . The winner is the player who fills in his table first and shouts “Lotería!”.

Antique Lotería cards were hand-painted.  Furthermore, Lotería cards represent images or folkloric characters from the culture of the country of origin, in this case, Mexico. For this reason, this game is not only a pastime, but also an internal vision of Mexico.

Taking the themes of traditional lotería cards, Bertha Cuéllar painted her own interpretation of them, giving them a personal touch, placing emphasis on themes representative of Mexican culture.

Other versions

 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, the city where I was born, is surely  “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 and their deep love for Mexico.

The cobalt blue of its exterior walls, which gives it the name “Casa Azul”, has been the same since its construction. Artists of the stature Remedios Varo, the 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 iconic dresses that belonged to Frida. 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 by Frida Kahlo, which she named as “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 their explanations … Enjoy the journey!

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Los Alebrijes

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

There are many versions of the origin of the alebrijes. However, one of them 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 those celebrations. 

After the Masquerade Balls stopped being celebrated in the 60’s, Pedro Linares dedicated himself for more than forty years to molding alebrijes. 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.

Los Árboles de la Vida

In Metepec, about 60 km from Mexico City, one of the most famous pieces of pottery in Mexico is made: The Tree of Life. These clay figures are part of an artisan tradition that is made with techniques that date back to pre-Hispanic times.

Present in most of the world’s mythologies, The Trees of Life are full of symbolism. Originally these clay sculptures represented the biblical scene of creation and 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 from China. Without a doubt, this fact directly threatens the modus vivendi of Metepec artisans and the continuity of this beautiful tradition. 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 and no place else!

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Los Tenangos

Among all the textile traditions of Mexico, the richest in cultural and ethnic identity is probably the tenangos of the State of Hidalgo. These textile pieces, also known as Otomi embroideries, are made in the Sierra Otomi mountains, three hours from Mexico City.

Tenangos require not only an enormous effort, but also a lot of dedication and patience since their elaboration can take up to 10 months. The embroideries characteristic  of  tenangos are arise from a sketched outline which is drawn on a light-colored raw cotton canvas.

Interestingly, these beautiful fabrics tell of the daily life and events of the Otomi communities. In other words, the tenangos give life to daily scenes not only of flora and fauna but also recount religious events, festivals, and carnivals. One must not forget that in not-too-distant times illiteracy was very common in the Otomi communities and for that reason, tenangos became not only a way of expression but also one of preserving traditions. In fact, the word tenango comes from Nahuatl and means in the place of the walls, which suggests that these embroideries are representations of ancient cave paintings.

To recognize the greatness and skill of these extraordinary artisan pieces, one can find tenangos on display in prestigious institutions such as the National Museum of Anthropology and History in Mexico City. 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 haute couture designers.

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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 crossed the northern border along with Mexican migrants crossing to the United States.

Unfortunately, many Mexicans decide to cross the border for purely economic reasons. As they begin their journey, these migrants ask the Virgin of Guadalupe that they do find work at the other side of the border and that one day they can be reunited with their families 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 images serve to provide a moment of reflection for migrants before crossing the border in search of a future that is not only uncertain but also dangerous.

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. Even more, one must always keep in mind that the borders are made by men and that the virgin loves all human beings equally, regardless of her nationality or race.

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Typical Dresses from the State of Tabasco

Most likely, Mexico is one of the richest nations in cultural manifestations. This can be explained by the fact that the different states of the Mexican Republic have particular identity traits, such as art, food, dance, music, and clothing.

Among the most colorful traditional outfits in Mexico are the typical women’s costumes from the state of Tabasco. These beautiful garments have won national contests for typical regional clothing, and have become elements of the cultural identity of that coastal state. Women from Tabasco proudly wear these garments in galas and public events such as religious ceremonies, popular festivals, 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 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. The Chinese used piñatas as part of the end-of-the-year celebrations, and they were in the shape of a cow or ox. Also, instead of breaking the piñata, as it is done in Mexico, Chinese people burn it in order to give luck in the coming year. 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, and it is painted using very vibrant colors. Furthermore,  piñatas are filled with sweets and fruit and 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.

The piñata, like so many other Mexican traditions, is a mix of indigenous and Spanish customs. Curiously, it is said that the Mayan people played a game that consisted of breaking a clay pot full of cocoa while hanging from a rope. For their part, the Aztecs carried clay pots with treasures, which they adorned with feathers and broke during the celebrations for the God Huitzilopochtli. However, after the arrival of the Spanish, these indigenous customs were adapted by the Catholic friars as a method of evangelization. The piñata, its shapes, colors, and practice are all full of very peculiar symbolism. For example, the piñata’s spikes represent the 7 deadly sins and the stick with which it is hit implies the force with 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 is the confusion of the soul in a world full of sins. The bright colors with which the piñatas are decorated symbolize the temptations of the devil. Finally, the sweets represent the riches poured out from the kingdom of heaven, which are the reward for defeating evil or in this case, breaking the piñata.

El Mariachi

What Mexican hasn’t sung, with the help of a shot of tequila or two, to the tune of a mariachi? The mariachi is one of the most festive, picturesque, and recognized cultural expressions of Mexico in the world. The presence of a mariachi is customary in all kinds of public celebrations such as weddings, birthdays or serenades. However, the word mariachi comes neither from Spanish nor from Nahuatl but from the French language. During the French intervention in Mexico in the 19th century, French 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.

The first musical groups that preceded the mariachi date back to the colonial period and come from Cocula in the state of Jalisco. It is said that when Spanish priests arrived to evangelize the inhabitants of this region, the priests realized how easy it was for the locals to reproduce melodies. From there, they decided to merge the shells and clay flutes used by the indigenous people with European instruments such as violins and guitars. Likewise, the priests promoted the use of music to evangelize, since they encouraged the indigenous inhabitants to use their music as a vehicle to express their devotion to the Virgin Mary.

During the colonization of Mexico, mariachi music was ignored by the upper classes of Mexican society, and it remained isolated to rural areas. However, in 1905 it was considered that the mariachi was very picturesque and worthy of being brought to the birthday party of President Porfirio Diaz. Two years later, Diaz invited a mariachi group to entertain a party in honor of United States Secretary of State Elihu Root. Clearly, these events boosted the popularity of this musical genre throughout Mexico. Ironically, the same mariachi music was later used to overthrow President Diaz during the revolution, since it was used as a weapon by the armed coup movement. Curiously, the sounds of the mariachi were used as revolutionary propaganda, since they made the soldiers feel proud of being Mexican and also encouraged them to fight for a more just nation. However, what marked a definitive point in the popularity of this musical genre was the fact that in 1936 the candidate for the presidency of Mexico, Lazaro Cárdenas, invited a group of mariachis to his political campaign throughout the country.

Today Mariachi has an international reach and in places as far away as Korea or South Africa one can find mariachis in local languages. Furthermore, in 2011 UNESCO unanimously voted for the mariachi as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

The Portraits of Frida Kahlo and his Relationship with Diego Rivera

Frida Kahlo is unquestionably an icon of popular culture and 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 who have analyzed this painting have concluded that the thorns represent the 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 he had an extramarital relationship with a friend of hers.

Without a doubt, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera have been one of the most controversial and atypical couples in art history. They were together 25 years and married (and divorced) twice. Unquestionably,  their relationship was plagued by unions, disunion, 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 passion and love, but at the same time, says a Turkish proverb, that thorns are endured for the love of roses, or in this case love. Perhaps Frida endured way too many thorns.

“La Rosa” is a tribute to that beautiful flower, to the nature of love, to Frida Kahlo, and her stormy relationship with Diego.

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In any craft market in Mexico, one can find a wide variety of handmade toys, including ball bearings, rattles, marbles, yo-yos, and of course… spinning tops or “trompos”. In short, spinning tops are not endemic to Mexico, since its history is as old as mankind. Cavemen learned to live together and consequently play together, and hence they also spun any object they could for entertainment. Ancient civilizations of Rome, Greece, China, and Japan have had ties to this toy, and the earliest records of spinning tops date back to 4,000 B.C. In fact, the oldest spinning top in the world is in the British Museum. Originally, this game or pastime had been linked to the ever-present obsession of human beings with fortune-telling and the movement of the stars. In any case, today the spinning tops are simply a game or pastime of skill and nothing more.

Mexican spinning tops or trompos are made of guava or mesquite wood and are distinguished by their horizontal stripes. It is worth mentioning that every year “The Popular Toy Contest” is held at the Museum of the Mexican Popular Toy in the City of San Miguel de Allende Guanajuato. This competition serves both to distinguish the best handmade creations of these toys and to promote their use.

Chihuahua Dog

Possibly one of the most famous dog breeds in the world, which is commonly linked with entertainment celebrities, is the beloved Chihuahua. This observant and protective dog, with big eyes is originally from Mexico, and it is considered 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. However, it is appropriate to mention that engravings and sculptures of this type of dog have also been found in ruins of the Mayan and Aztec civilizations.

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

It should be emphasized that the official name of this breed is Chihuahueño, and not Chihuahua, but given the difficulty of foreigners in pronouncing the ñ, the name of this breed has been adulterated to that of Chihuahua.

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Talavera from The State of Puebla

One of the most significant artisan creations of Mexico is undoubtedly the Talavera Poblana, from the State of Puebla, hence its name. The Talavera is a very fine and decorative pottery that is distinguished by its stylized patterns, its characteristic metallic cobalt blue and its 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, among many others.

The Talavera Poblana is a product of different artisan trends originating from various regions of the world. One of the particularities that distinguishes the talavera is the glazed ceramic which originated in imperial China. Thereafter  Muslims learned this craft technique from the Chinese and introduced it to the Iberian Peninsula in the 15th century. In fact, the name “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, since this region had a wide availability of materials necessary for pottery production. Consequently, Puebla became the most important center of pottery production in Colonial Mexico.

Spanish pottery artisans taught their glazing techniques to indigenous Mexican locals, as these methods were unknown in the New World. Gradually, the indigenous influences were incorporated into the elaboration of the Talavera by integrating numerous pre-Hispanic figures into its decoration. The final result was an original product that we know today as Talavera Poblana. The manufacturing, decoration, and enameling procedures are still today the same as those used during the colonial period. Talavera Poblana and its manufacturing techniques were declared an intangible cultural heritage of humanity in 2019.

Tin Hearts, Little Miracles

One of the oldest trades in transmitting and a symbol of the Catholic devotion of the Mexican people are the brass hearts or Milagritos (little miracles). These small sculptures are representations of the sacred heart and are commonly made in conjunction with crowns, daggers, thorns, or fire. Milagritos are made using a sheet of brass, which is struck lightly with a chisel, thus creating its relief. Finally, these hearts are 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 for having survived a scorpion bite 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 is considered a national hero and the most significant symbol of the Mexican revolutionary resistance. A man of deep convictions and righteous impulses, “El Caudillo del Sur” dedicated his body and soul to defending the lands, waters, forests, and natural resources of indigenous peoples.

Zapata witnessed the poverty generated by the economic policies of the administration of President Porfirio Díaz  (1876-1911), which were characterized by the excessive exploitation of raw materials and mass food production. With the motto of “order and progress” the economic strategies of President Díaz led to the creation of large agricultural estates which robbed the lands from native Mexican Indians. Consequently, Emilano Zapatata took it upon himself to fight for the rights of the indigenous peoples over their territories during the Revolution. 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 remain relevant today in Mexican political discourse. 

Zapata was assassinated during an ambush in 1919, however, his figure has always been linked to the fight for social equity. Today, El Caudillo del Sur, Emiliano Zapata, and the Argentine Ernesto “Che” Guevara are the two great Latin American revolutionary leaders of the 20th century.

Wrestling is a very precise mix between classic tragedy, circus, Olympic sport, comedy and theater. Considered like any social phenomenon, which is only surpassed in popularity by soccer, Mexican wrestling has a very defined style, thanks to its showy acrobatics, and a very particular folklore. The two most distinctive factors that differentiated Mexican wrestling from that of other countries were its imaginative masks and the legendary Lucha Libre films.

Also nicknamed “El Enmascarado de Plata”, Rodolfo Guzmán Huerta with his character “El Santo” was the most famous wrestler in Mexico. El Santo starred in more than 50 films and is considered a benchmark of 20th century Mexican culture on par with Pedro Infante and Cantinflas. Furthermore, in the ring, “El Santo” fought for 4 decades and was never unmasked. Other fighters who also marked history were, Blue Demon, Huracán Ramirez and Mil Mascaras

Lucha Libre in Mexico is part of the Mexican identity, for this reason, in 2018, Lucha Libre was declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Mexico City.

Faced with the threat of globalization and the homogenization of the products we consume, it is necessary to preserve the cultural expressions that distinguish people. Wrestling is identity. Wrestling is culture. Lucha Libre is Mexico.

Sugar Skulls

The Day of the Dead, which is celebrated on November 1st, is possibly the celebration with the most cultural roots in Mexico, however, this celebration would not be complete without the traditional sugar skulls. 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.

Sugar skulls cannot be missing from the Day of the Dead altars and together with photographs of the deceased, candles, saucers, and flowers they remind us of our loved ones who are no longer with us and at the same time reconnect with our unavoidable fate.

Macabre enough, the sugar skulls are related to the human sacrifices practiced by the Mesoamerican peoples before the arrival of the conquistadors. It was usual for the indigenous people to include the skulls of people sacrificed in different rituals and thus honor the gods. Clearly, after the conquest and subsequent evangelization, these rituals were prohibited, since these practices went against the Catholic religion. In this way, this practice was adapted to please the indigenous people and human skulls were replaced by candy skulls.

Sugar skulls are made primarily from sugar and egg whites through a purely artisanal process called alfeñique. It is worth mentioning that this tradition was learned by the Spanish from the Arab towns and later brought to Mexico after the conquest.

The sugar skulls, together with Arboles de la Vida, La Piñata, El Mariachi, and Talavera Poblana, are one more example of new ideas and customs brought by the Spanish from the old continent, which were mixed with indigenous customs. resulting in the richness and diversity of Mexican culture.

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, tangible or intangible, which, due to their significance, are called 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.

In relation to tangible assets, which are made up of movable or immovable property, the list includes the Historic Center of Mexico City, Xochimilco and the pyramids of Teotihuacán, Chichén Itzá and Uxmal among many others. In relation to intangible goods, which are made up of traditions, practices and beliefs, the list includes the Day of the Dead festivities, the Mariachis and the delicious Mexican cuisine.

It is our job to recognize the rich and different cultural expressions and historical sites of Mexico, given that due to their importance and cultural legacy, they have become a heritage of not only Mexico but of all humanity.

My Mexico coalition of two mighty empires, fusion of two millennial cultures destined to cross paths and enrich each other. 

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