Friends and Colleagues, it is that time of the week again. I hope you are all getting excited to visit us here in Arizona for the CLDA Final Mile Forum. Make sure you get your hotel booked soon at the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass, it does fill up fast and is a beautiful and unique hotel. You can book your hotel here. Today I am writing more about our history and culture.
Experience Southwestern Culture Through Mariachi
When my kids and I dine at a Mexican restaurant in Phoenix, we look forward to much more than great food and better company. We also love the live mariachi music. Ok, I will be the first to admit that I enjoy the big smiles on their faces and the excitement they get from the live music played right to you at your table a bit more than the music. However, No matter what your reason is, no visit to Phoenix is complete without a live mariachi experience. When you travel to Phoenix for the CLDA Final Mile Forum in May you can experience the music for yourself, but now you need to start your explorations of mariachi by learning about its roots.
Early History of Mariachi
It’s unknown precisely when mariachi originated, but scholars tend to agree it was sometime during the 18th century, although some believe it’s history dates back as far as the 16th century. The Mexican state of Jalisco is generally credited with the birth of Mariachi music and Jalisco is also the home of Tequila. In order to be called Tequila it must be produced in Jalisco, with a few minor exceptions. It all seems to make sense to me. I know the legend says that it was developed in a small town of Cocula as a distinctive version of the Spanish theatrical orchestra, but I can see the priest Cosme Santa Anna and his buddies all sitting around drinking Tequila and enjoying some Mariachi. Then the next morning, with a bit of a hangover he wrote the earliest known written reference to mariachi in 1852. It could have happened, or not.
Uniforms of Mariachi
In the beginning, the musicians wore clothing that was typical for peasants of the time. Mariachis didn’t begin dressing alike in uniforms until after the Revolution of 1910. As mariachi musicians became more affluent, they began to dress in the traje de charro, or the uniform of the horseman. Today, you’ll see contemporary mariachis wear a sombrero, wide bow tie, boots, short jacket, embroidered belt, and ornamental pants.
Origins of the Name
The etymology of the word “mariachi” is a subject of debate among scholars. It’s agreed that it’s native to Mexico. Many scholars believe that the word stems from the currently extinct Coca language of central Jalisco. Another theory is that “mariachi” is a corruption of a French word for marriage or wedding. Proponents of this theory attribute the word to the French Intervention of the 1860s. However, this has recently been disproved because the usage of the word has been shown to have been used prior to the French Intervention era. As with anything, debate fires curiosity and adds to the mystic of the mariachi band.
When visiting Phoenix if you are looking for a local mariachi band my suggestion is to call ahead to one of the Mexican restaurants I have recommended over the past few weeks and ask if and when they will have a local mariachi band playing. You will often also have smaller bands on Friday and Saturday night wandering through the restaurant offering to play for you and your guests tableside. You cannot go wrong with some good Mexican food, your favorite Tequila and a nice outdoor patio. That way even if you do not find a mariachi band you will have a great time. For those of you who are not familiar with how Tequila is made, check out this quick informational video on Tequila.
The invigorating cultural experiences are just one of the reasons why I’m proud to be an Arizonian. When you visit us in Phoenix for the CLDA conference, I hope you’ll take advantage of the opportunity to immerse yourself in all that Arizona has to offer.
Just trying to keep you all out of Jail…
Here are today’s tidbits of information to keep you all safe and legal while you are here in Arizona.
First, when you arrive in Arizona all excited to embrace the local culture and cuisine, just remember that it is illegal to walk through a hotel lobby with your spurs on. Then, after a few sips of tequila when you are enjoying a stroll through the desert, enjoying the local flora, please ensure that you do not attempt to cut down a saguaro, pronounced “suh-wahr-oh,” cactus. All jokes aside, the penalty is up to 25 years in prison. While that might sound harsh for cutting down a cactus, there are very good reasons for it. The northern area of the Sonoran Desert is the only place on our planet that the saguaro naturally exists, For the first 10 years, a saguaro cactus is typically under 1 inch in height. At 70 years of age, a saguaro cactus can reach 6 and a half feet tall, and produces their first flowers. Finally, at 100 years of age, a saguaro cactus can start to produce its first arm and will reach over 15 feet tall.
Hope to see you all in May for the CLDA Final Mile Forum.
