Charro
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Charro, in Mexico, is historically the horseman from the countryside, the Ranchero, who worked on the haciendas and rural areas performing all his tasks on horseback, working as
Etymology
The word charro (syn. charrar, charra) is first documented in Spain in the book “Vocabulario de refranes y frases proverbiales” published in 1627 by Gonzalo Correas as a synonym of dumb or stupid person.
“Charros: gente del campo que se compone mucho para montar á caballo” (country people who are very well formed to ride a horse).
Origins
The Viceroyalty of New Spain had prohibited Native Americans from riding or owning horses, with the exception of the Tlaxcaltec nobility, other allied chieftains, and their descendants. However, cattle raising required the use of horses, for which farmers would hire cowboys who were preferably mestizo and, rarely, Indians. Some of the requirements for riding a horse were that one had to be employed by a plantation, had to use saddles that differed from those used by the military, and had to wear leather clothing from which the term "cuerudo" (leathered one) originated.
Over time landowners and their employees, starting with those living in the Mexican Plateau and later the rest of the country, adapted their cowboy style to better suit the Mexican terrain and temperature, evolving away from the Spanish style of cattle raising. After the Mexican War of Independence horse riding grew in popularity. Many riders of mixed race became mounted mercenaries, messengers and plantation workers. Originally known as Chinacos, these horsemen later became the modern "vaqueros"[citation needed]. Wealthy plantation owners would often acquire decorated versions of the distinctive Charro clothing and horse harness to display their status in the community. Poorer riders would also equip their horses with harness made from agave or would border their saddles with chamois skin.
Mexican War of Independence and the 19th century
As the Mexican War of Independence began in 1810 and continued for the next 11 years, charros were very important soldiers on both sides of the war. Many haciendas, or Spanish owned estates, had a long tradition of gathering their best charros as a small militia for the estate to fend off bandits and marauders. When the War for Independence started, many haciendas had their own armies in an attempt to fend off early struggles for independence.[17]
After independence was achieved in 1821, political disorder made law and order hard to establish throughout much of Mexico. Large bands of bandits plagued the early 19th century as a result of lack of legitimate ways for social advance. One of the most notable gang was called "the silver ones" or the "plateados"; these thieves dressed as traditional wealthy charros, adorning their clothing and saddles with much silver, channeling the elite horseman image.[18] The bandit gangs would disobey or buy out government, establishing their own profit and rules.
Towards the mid 19th century, however, President Juárez established the "rurales" or mounted rural police to crack down on gangs and enforce national law across Mexico. It was these rurales that helped to establish the charro look as one of manhood, strength, and nationhood.[19]
During the
Charros were quickly seen as national heroes as Mexican politicians in the late 19th century pushed for the romanticized charro lifestyle and image as an attempt to unite the nation after the conservative and liberal clashes.
Early twentieth-century usage
Prior to the Mexican Revolution of 1910, the distinctive charro suit, with its sombrero,
However, the most notable example of 'charrería' is General Emiliano Zapata who was known before the revolution as a skilled rider and horse tamer.
Although it is said that charros came from the states of Jalisco in Mexico, it was not until the 1930s that charrería became a rules sport, as rural people began moving towards the cities. During this time, paintings of charros also became popular.
During World War II an army of 150,000 charros was created, the "Legión de Guerrilleros Mexicanos", in anticipation of an eventual attack of German forces. It was led by
Use of term
Although the word charro was a originally just a derogatory term for country people, synonymous with English words
In cinema
The "charro film" was a
Modern day
In all the states of Mexico — and in some US states such as
Some decades ago charros in Mexico were permitted to carry guns. In conformity with current law, the charro must be fully suited and be a fully pledged member of Mexico's Federación Mexicana de Charrería.[25]
See also
References
- ^ "REGLAMENTO GENERAL DE COMPETENCIAS" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-11-20. Retrieved 2016-05-11.
- ^ Correas, Gonzalo; Mir, Miguel (1906). Vocabulario de refranes y frases proverbiales y otras fórmulas comunes de la lengua castellana en que van todos los impresos antes y otra gran copia que juntó el maestro Gonzalo Correas. Estab. tip. de J. Ratés. p. 284. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ Medina Miranda, Hector Manuel (2009). LOS CHARROS EN ESPAÑA Y MÉXICO. ESTEREOTIPOS GANADEROS Y VIOLENCIA LÚDICA. Universidad de Salamanca. p. 97. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ Correas, Gonzalo (1924). "Vocabulario de refranes y frases proverbiales y otras fórmulas comunes de la lengua castellana ... : Van añedidas las declaraciones y aplicación adonde pareció ser necesaria, al cabo se ponen las frases más llenas y copiosas".
- ^ Diccionario de la lengua castellana. Madrid: Imprenta de Francisco de Hierro. 1729. p. 311. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ Diccionario de la lengua castellana. Joaquín Ibarra de la Real Academia. 1780. p. 221. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ Baretti, Giuseppe (1786). Diccionario español e ingles. London: A costa de Piestre y Delamolliere. p. 162. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ Neuman, Henry (1802). A New Dictionary of the Spanish and English Languages: Spanish and English. London: Vernor and Hood. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ DICCIONARIO DE LA LENGUA CASTELLANA, COMPUESTO POR LA REAL ACADEMIA ESPAÑOLA, REDUCIDO Á UN TOMO PARA SU MAS FÁCIL USO (4th ed.). Madrid: Real Academia. 1803. pp. 259, 918. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ de Larramendi, Manuel (1745). Diccionario trilingue del Castellano, Bascuence y Latin. San-Sebastian, Riesgo y Montero 1745 Volume 2. Ciudad de San Sebastián: Riesgo y Montero. p. 195. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ Diario curioso, erudito, economico y comercial. Imprenta Manuel González. 1787. p. 727. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ Capmany y Montpalau, Antonio (1858). Museo Histórico, que comprende los principales sucesos de España y el estranjero, como asimismo toda la parte artística y monumental de los principales paises Volume 1 (1st ed.). J. Casas y Díaz. p. 409. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ J. Corominas, 2008, p. 172
- ^ Diccionario de la Real Academia Española
- ^ de Zamacois, Niceto (1879). Historia de Méjico desde sus tiempos mas remotos hasta nuestros dias Volume 10 (Volume 10 ed.). Barcelona and Mexico: J.F. Párres y compañia. p. 61. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
- ^ Zamacois, Niceto de (1850). Los Misterios de México: Poema escrito en variedad de metros · Volume 1. México: Imprenta de Vicente G. Torres. p. 205. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
- JSTOR 3317273.
- JSTOR 3317273.
- ISBN 9780195146394.
- ^ Sands, K. M. (1993). Charrería Mexicana: An Equestrian Folk Tradition. United States: University of Arizona Press. Pg.59
- ISBN 978-0-292-74048-8
- ISBN 0-8420-2438-7
- Diccionario de la Real Academia Española
- ^ p. 6 Figueredo, Danilo H. Revolvers and Pistolas, Vaqueros and Caballeros: Debunking the Old West ABC-CLIO, 9 Dec 2014
- ^ Camara de Diputados. "Ley Federal de Armas de Fuego y Explosivos (Articulo 10 Seccion VII)" (PDF). Secretaria de Gobernacion. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2015. Retrieved May 5, 2015.]
External links
- Arte en la Charerria: The Artisanship of Mexican Equestrian Culture at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City
- Art of the Charrería at the Museum of the American West
- Charrería from the Handbook of Texas Online
- Charro Days from the Handbook of Texas Online
- Charreria, the symbol of Mexico
- Federación Mexicana de Charrería (Spanish) Archived 2009-02-20 at the Wayback Machine
- Nacional de Charros (Spanish)
- Official Rulebook (Spanish)
- "CHARRO USA" U.S. Radio, Magazine and Media News off Charreria (Mexican Rodeo)