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sparks

Dec 15, 2002, 9:12 PM

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Courting parades

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When I was in Ajijic I was told to expect a courting parade the Sunday night of the Fiesta ... but I was told about it from a gringo that some how thought they do it every weekend. Gringos sometimes pass this type of mis-info along. Supposedly the older teens circle each other and do a bit of flirting with the blessings of the elders. Now that I think about it ... every week would be a bit much. Anyone know of this ritual and how often it might be done in a given community.

Alteño

Dec 15, 2002, 10:54 PM

Post #2 of 12 (1282 views)

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Re: [sparks] Courting parades

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Sparks,

I can tell you how it is done in Los Altos, and how I used to do it when I was a teenager. But I can't do it right now, I will get back to this issue in a while.

esperanza

Dec 16, 2002, 6:16 AM

Post #3 of 12 (1253 views)

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Re: [sparks] Courting parades

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Sparks, this old ritual happens every Sunday night in Ajijic. I wouldn't exactly call it a parade...but the kids circle 'round and 'round the plaza, dressed up and (for the girls) made up, everyone subtly or not so subtly eyeing each other. There's lots of teasing, lots of flirting, lots of giggling among the girls. Couples walk abrazados (arms around one another), some looking very smug to be novios. If you're on the plaza some Sunday night after around 9:30, you'll see for yourself. And gosh, during the fiestas it was happening to some degree EVERY night. Thursday the 28th a person could barely move in the plaza for the numbers of kids out walking, and the 30th it was even more crowded.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

sparks

Dec 16, 2002, 6:54 AM

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Re: [esperanza] Courting parades

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I was there a Sunday night and expecting to see it. It was a busy night (foosball, dancing, eating) and hardly room to walk, let alone be noticed if you were parading/strutting around. Guess it will have to wait for another day. I assume this is a small town phenom anymore where most people know each other.

Randy in AGS

Dec 16, 2002, 10:56 AM

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In los Altos they are called Serenata's...

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Hello: In the small towns in los Altos de Jalisco, these Sunday evening 'courting parades' as you call them are named Serenata's. The single girls tend to walk one direction around the main plaza, the single guys walk the other. The girls and guys flirt with each other, and at the end of the Serenata the lucky guy gets to walk the girl to her door if she so desires.

I know in San Miguel el Alto, the boys used to throw rose petals or confetti on the girl(s) they are smitten with, or so I am told by my wife (sorry, I have no website to support this with, you'll have to take me at my word!).

This practice is starting to fade for example in San Juan de los Lagos, where the teens tend to go to the disco instead. But in places like San Julian, the Serenata's are still very important courting tools and are attended by hundreds of suitors.

It is rather refreshing to see in this day and age an innocent courting practice such as the Serenata, which is in direct conflict with the new world order as prescribed by MTV, which advocates sex, sex, sex...

scott

Dec 16, 2002, 3:11 PM

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Re: [Randy in AGS] In los Altos they are called Serenata's...

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I thought a serenata was when you woke a girl up with a Mariachi band singing under her balcony....?

sparks

Dec 16, 2002, 5:32 PM

Post #7 of 12 (1147 views)

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Re: [Randy in AGS] In los Altos they are called Serenata's...

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It is rather refreshing to see in this day and age an innocent courting practice such as the Serenata, which is in direct conflict with the new world order as prescribed by MTV, which advocates sex, sex, sex...

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Interesting to me that it is so open to the whole community with everyone (more or less) having an input just by being a witness. My upbringing was the equivalent of a military brat, moving all the time ... and always being on the outside of the intimate community activities (yes the states has/had a few). If someone was tempted to go back and revisit some of the things you missed in your youth ... Mexico still offers a view. I like it !!

Thanks Randy

Georgia

Dec 16, 2002, 6:06 PM

Post #8 of 12 (1140 views)

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Re: [sparks] Courting parades

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Sparks, I lived in Spain when I was a girl. Yes, it was a while back, but as they say, "it seems like only yesterday." This "paseo" was the custom there as well. The boys would throw "piropos" at the girls as they passed by. (A piropo is a romantic -- hopefully -- comment. Sometimes they just said, "guapa.") Also, on Sundays, you would see dads out with their young sons teaching them the art of the piropo. It was always cute to have a three foot toddler type go past you and say, "Guapa!"

Yes, today there are discos, but the boys are all still "standing on the corner watching all the girls go by" and obtrusively admiring the whole business. It's great!

Randy in AGS

Dec 16, 2002, 6:33 PM

Post #9 of 12 (1128 views)

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Re: [sparks] In los Altos they are called Serenata's...

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I agree; it is quite a spectacle to witness. In some towns they do this with a little more exuberance; for example in San Julian there must have been three or four hundred singles 'participating', with bands playing and many 'witnesses'. In Arandas, it is less of an event than it used to be, much less orchestrated than San Julian or San Miguel el Alto. The discos are having an impact there, which I think of as unfortunate but inevitable, I guess...everything changes, and the gentle traditions of the past fade away for something edgier.

Oh, and Scott; yes, both practices are graced with the name Serenata. Take it from me, there is no easier way to express ones fondness or love for their Mexicana than to bring the Mariachi's for her.They really swoon and love it!

Alteño

Dec 16, 2002, 10:29 PM

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Re: [sparks] Sunday evening at the plaza

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In Los Altos de Jalisco’s towns on sundays and during the town’s Fiestas Patronales, after evening mass, teenagers would go to the town’s square or Plaza to "dar vueltas a la plaza" (go around the plaza) while listening to the Serenata played by the municipal band in the "kiosko". This would be the socially accepted way of looking for a potential girlfriend/boyfriend or meeting of current sweethearts.

The boys walked in one direction around the plaza, and the girls did it in the opposite direction, so that they would face each other every turn. Then, if you liked a certain girl, you’d let her know by offering her some flowers (carnations, roses, gardenias) and throwing some confetti and "serpentinas" over her hair and shoulders (never on her face). If you succeeded and were accepted by the girl at first, then she would allow you to approach her and start a conversation. This conversation would take place while walking around the plaza or stepping aside. If things went well, then she would let you walk her home after the serenata was over (around 9:30 pm) and she was expected to arrive home. Then you would have 30 minutes left of conversation at her door or window before retiring. If she decided to become you girlfriend, then you two would meet every sunday evening at the plaza and during the weekdays' evenings at her door or window.

Many adults would go only to seat on the benches at the plaza and listen to the Serenata played by the band, and to keep an eye on the youth to make certain that things went in a decent manner. Sometimes a brawl or fight would start because two boys liked the same girl.

That used to happen regularly some time ago, these days, the boys and girls meet at the cafés, the discos, and the "antros". Although, the ritual at the plaza remains active, mainly by teenagers from the ranches who come to the town on sundays and some others who don’t like to go to the disco or antro.

Alteño

Dec 17, 2002, 11:02 PM

Post #11 of 12 (1062 views)

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Re: [Georgia] Spanish Paseos

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Georgia,

This Serenata at the Plaza is a custom brought centuries ago by Spanish settlers to the Los Altos Region of Nueva Galicia (now known as Jalisco State). And it's the same Spanish Paseo.

In fact, the Serenatas come from the Spanish tradition of courting with music played by Tunas (known as Estudiantinas in México).

jennifer rose

Dec 18, 2002, 9:27 AM

Post #12 of 12 (1041 views)

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Re: [Randy in AGS] Mariachis

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In Reply To

Take it from me, there is no easier way to express ones fondness or love for their Mexicana than to bring the Mariachi's for her.They really swoon and love it!

A few weeks ago, I was awakened by the most pleasant music. Like a
symphony. Living here as long as I have, you'd think I could figure out
where the music was coming from, but my bedroom balcony faces west, and the street's on the east. But I can never figuring out where the music’s coming from unless I go out and look around. So I put on some clothes, went downstairs, opened the gate and had a look. Mariachis. Not the piercing shrieks of cacophony that's the usual mark of mariachis, but soft, smooth music. And they went on for half an hour. A dozen musicians.

The Neighbor on the Corner has 3 daughters in university, which means 3
cars, plus boyfriends' cars, which often means that simply negotiating the block can be a Rubik's Cube experience.

Those mariachis had to cost the daughters' boyfriend a substantial sum, which got me wondering whether there was really some motive other than pleasing the novia.

A few days later, I saw the Neighbor on the Corner, and I commented upon the mariachis. The Neighbor replied that her daughter’s boyfriend was now back in her good graces for bringing on the mariachis, but her daughter was still in the doghouse. (I suspect someone stayed out too late one night.)

And even though he may not realize it, the boyfriend just earned extra points with me for all the times his car’s blocked my driveway.