Honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe

Today, millions of Mexicans and Latin Americans honor the Virgin of Guadalupe, Mexico’s patron saint.

Every year during this season, over 8 million people make their way to the Basilica of Saint Mary of Guadalupe in Mexico City. Today, December 12th, marks the day in 1531 when the indigenous Juan Diego saw the Virgin of Guadalupe in a night-blue cloak studded with stars on a hill in the Tepeyac desert, near Mexico City.

La Virgen de Guadalupe is Mexico’s most popular religious image commonly called  the “Queen of Mexico” and ”Empress of the Americas.” She is a prominent part of Mexican culture and an integral part of the Mexican identity.

The Vatican celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe with a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. The catholic celebration was televised live on Telemundo and on various stations throughout the U.S. and viewed by many of the nation’s Hispanics. During the Mass, Pope Benedict XVI confirmed he will travel to Cuba and Mexico next year.

Over 40% of the world’s Catholics reside in Latin America. This will be Pope Benedict’s first trip to Mexico, which is the second only to Brazil as the world’s top Catholic nation.

To learn more about this important day read, THE AMERICANO: Hispanics remember Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas:

“The Virgin of Guadalupe is celebrated every year on December 12th with a variety of rites ranging from the serenade with Mariachis the night before –which is televised nation-wide in Mexico– to the midnight ceremonies by concheros, who call upon nine spirit guides with pagan dances and Catholic chants all through the night, before dancing all day in front of the Basilica.

Hers is one of the main religious shrines in the world, second in visitors only to the Vatican. Pilgrims from all over Mexico and abroad converge on Tepeyac Hill, seeking healing and favors, keeping vows, or simply paying homage to their beloved Little Mother, Queen of Mexico, Patroness of the Americas. It is also a Feast Day in the United States.

The opening of the New World brought with it both fortune-seekers and religious preachers desiring to convert the native populations to the Christian faith. One of the converts was a poor Aztec Indian named Juan Diego….

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Celebrating Dia De Los Muertos and my Mexican-Cuban Heritage

Today is Dia De Los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, a pre-Colombian tradition which honors the dead, and believes that adult souls come to visit their living relatives.

As a child my father would bring home sugar skulls and sweet breads and explain this Mexican tradition.  He’d show my brother and I pictures from festivities in his hometown in Veracruz, Mexico, which seemed like a far away land compared to our home in Miami, Florida. With my Cuban mother and grandmother we would light candles next to old pictures and small offerings for dead loved ones and pray for them.

As an adult, I prepare a small altar in honor of my ancestors. Remembering them brings me peace and comfort. I take a moment to realize where I come from and the sacrifices made for me by earlier generations.

I may not do the traditions perfectly, but I try to hold on to these important family customs and honor my Mexican culture and my own Mexican-Cuban upbringing. Next to la Virgen de Guadalupe candle is card of La Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre. The pictures of all my grandparents, the Mexican ones and the Cuban ones, stand side by side as I honor their lives on this special day.

Looking at the pictures reminds me, I am a proud child of immigrants. I am a proud child of exiles. I am a proud Latina.

In recent days, it seems that reporters and pundits have tried exceptionally hard to put immigrants against exiles, Mexicans versus Cubans. Be it using sloppy reporting or anecdotes, they have attempted to weave discontent in the Latino community, enough to try to give a Mexican-Cuban American some kind of personality disorder.

First off, immigrants come to this country for the same thing, better opportunities. Be it for political or economic reasons they all come to America in search of the American Dream. To those that want to imply that the hopes and dreams of immigrants and exiles are different are delusional and as we say, are buscapleitos (troublemakers.)

Are Cubans and Mexican different? Yes. Are there similarities? Yes. Does each

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Happy Mexican Independence Day

Today marks the start of festivities for Mexican Independence Day with el Grito de Indepencia, the cry for Independence.

201 years ago the people of Nueva Espana (New Spain) sought freedom from the tyranny of the royal Spanish crown. Much like their North American neighbors, the colonial citizens of present day Mexico desired freedom, equality and the right to elect their own leaders. Through a long and hard battle they won Independence and created the United Mexican States. (see video above.)

Today, also marks the start of National Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 – October 15. The period honoring all things Latino, started as Hispanic Heritage Week, as approved by President Lyndon Johnson. It was later expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period. President Reagan understood Latinos and wanted to fully recognized their powerful contributions to our great society.

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, there are more than 50 million Hispanics in the U.S., 16 percent of the total population, forming the nation’s largest ethnic minority.  Just under half live in California or Texas, and more than six-out-of-10 are of Mexican background.

Underlining the rate of growth of the Hispanic community, 26 percent of all children under the age of 5 in the U.S. are Hispanic.

Find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at www.census.gov.

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Happy Cinco De Mayo!

Happy Cinco De Mayo! A truly Mexican-American holiday. The day honors Mexican’s victory at the Battle at Puebla, Mexico against French forces in 1862 (it is not Mexican Independence Day). Watch the video and see how the Mexican’s victory at the Battle of Puebla on Cinco De Mayo played a positive role in America’s Civil War and Union forces!!!

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The Search for Authentic Mexican Food

Growing up with a Mexican father in South Florida is a challenge – a gastronomical challenge. We were constantly on a quest to find authentic Mexican food in a town dominated by Caribbean and South American culture. Let’s just say my dad was excited when they opened a Baja Fresh by his house (yes, sad I know… no offense Baja Fresh.)

Living in California had the added blessing of finding great Mexican food in every corner. Now, during my funemployment I rejoice in finding great Mexican cuisine in different cities.

In New York City I went to La Esquina. The three in one restaurant is a gem of great authentic Mexican food. We were lucky enough to get reservations for the posh down stairs hidden restaurant which you enter through the “Employees Only” door in the back of the tacqueria/taco stand.

By far my favorite item was a somewhat simple dish – grilled corn (aka Elotes Callejeros). The cheesy, crunchy fire roasted corn on the cob was mouth-watering and made me want to call my father immediately to tell him about the hidden NYC hot spot.

Below a picture of the item thanks to the internet. Also according to the internet the Elotes Callejeros are made by brushing them with chipotle mayonnaise, rolling them in finely grated sheep’s cheese (cotija cheese), sprinkle with a dry mix of chilli, paprika, ground pepitas and lime zest, and lastly a generous squeeze of fresh lime. Yum.

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It’s Not By Birthday Until The Mariachi Plays

I have always loved celebrating my birthday – spending time with family, enjoying the food and most importantly partaking in the family traditions created to mark the celebration. Also, as a Latina, I always enjoy a good party – even as a child.

Since I can remember, each year on my birthday I was awaken by the sounds of music, specifically mariachi music to the tune of “Las Mañanitas.” My father would get up early and place a LP on the record player and turn up the volume until the entire house filled with the sounds of stringed instruments and trumpets, indicative of the traditional Mexican sound. The voice of Pedro Infante or the tunes of Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan would let me know that it was my cumpleanos as I could finally hear what I called “the Mexican Birthday Song.”

As the voice of Infante would fill the hallways and crevasses of my Miami home, my very proud Mexican father would pick me up and we would dance around the house. As I got older, and much to grownup to be physically lifted by my dad, he always made sure that no matter what part of the world life had taken me, my father always called me first thing in the morning just to sing to me (with some pre-tapped Mariachi help, now in CD format) my favorite song, “Las Mañanitas.”

Till this day, it is not my birthday until I hear “Las Mañanitas.” I’m sure that even when I’m old and gray, I’ll ask for the song… So Happy Birthday to me….

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Happy Three Kings Day – Feliz Dia De Los Reyes Magos

Happy Dia De Los Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day or Day of the Epiphany). Today is a major religious and cultural celebration for many in Latin America, and in my father’s homeland of Mexico.

Being American we had the best of both worlds. We celebrated Christmas on the 25^th and had Santa bring us gifts that morning, and then again we got “regalitos” on January 6^th from the Three Wise Men (Los Reyes Magos).

As a child I remember being so excited for Three Kings Day. My brother and I would write our letters to the Three Wise Men (just like we did to Santa), and on the night of January 5^th we would go outside and pick grass and place bowls of water for the camels of the Kings, who would bring us our toys. On the 6th my parents would take us to the Three Kings parade on Calle Ocho in Miami.

It’s great to have these traditions passed on from generation to generation. Just recently I returned to Mexico to celebrate Christmas with my dad and his family. Mexico is truly a different world and especially my father’s hometown of Tlalixcoyan. Try to find it on google maps and all you’ll find is a dot. (But my father tells me on google earth the entire city is there, in all its humble glory.)

Tlalixcoyan is in the state of Veracruz, the oldest “municipio” in all the Americas which also houses the first birth certificate in all the Americas (it is the birth certificate of the daughter of Hernan Cortes. )

I hadn’t been to Mexico in some years. I talk to my uncles, aunts and cousins somewhat regularly via email, text message, phone and video chat. But being there with them was a different experience. Long gone are the days were you could fine the entire massive family within a few blocks of each other and spend hours playing on the ranch and swinging on hammocks. Most of my cousins are now married with children. Many have moved out of Tlalixcoyan and into the big city, Ciudad de Veracruz.

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Honoring Dads: My family legacy…

Over the weekend in Miami my dad and I sat down and worked on our family tree. We have information for the Inclan family up to 1810. Several years ago a distant cousin from London showed up at our door with information about our family tree. With her blond hair and English accent she told us the story of her grand-father, a Spaniard who moved from Mexico back to Spain in 1914 after the death of his wife, my great grand-father Luis’ sister, Maria Inclan. Since then I have tried to piece information together and trace my family origins.

As we celebrate Father’s Day I can’t but think the legacy of our fathers. They leave us with their name in hopes to create a rich heritage and in a way live forever through their children. I have learned a lot about myself by learning more about their lives.

Here is a picture tribute to the fathers in my family tree. I thank them for what they did, and all they sacrificed, so their children could have a better life.

Above, taken in July 1941 in Mexico my great grandfather Luis Inclan with two of his eight children, daughters Alicia and Maria. He was a second generation Mexican trying to become successful in this new world. He owned a large supermarket and was a seasoned politician.

Above is my favorite picture of my dad’s father, my grandpa Samuel Inclan in 1946. He was an entrepreneur, a cattle man, a farm owner, a politician and a typical strong willed Mexican man. He had a knack for finding opportunities and started a bus company with his brothers. Till this day its one of the largest in the area. Above, three generation of Inclan men. My grandfather, my dad and brother celebrating my brother’s christening in Mexico, circa 1983.

Above, Abuelo (grandfather) Apolinar Rodriguez Rozan, my mom’s dad (on the left) standing in front of the Cuban capitol building in Havana. He was an entrepreneur, a light weight boxer and famed salsa dancer. When my mom was three, together with her mother and brother, she left to America. My grandfather stayed behind to tie loose ends and sell whatever they could. Unfortunately my grandfather, who believed in democracy, was forced to serve 14 years as a political prisoner in Cuba. My mom didn’t see her dad until she was 17.

Abuelo Rodriguez Rozan and his father, a very proud and strict Spaniard, circa 1950s. My great grandfather had 14 children. He was a smart businessman and intellectual. He told all his sons they had to start a business and all the women had to go to college. All of his sons become successful business owners. His daughters were teachers, writers and even an Ambassador to the United Nations.

Abuelo Aguilera, circa 1910, my mom’s mother’s dad. He was a Cuban patriot, a mayor and a poet. He founded the town of Oriente, Cuba and served as its first mayor. He was killed by a political enemy during his race for re-election with frog poisoning. My grandmother told wonderful stories of his intelligence and wit. His son would later run and win the same mayoral seat. He was the last mayor of Oriente of a free Cuba.

Above, Francisco Vicente Aguilera pictured on the Cuban 100 Peso bill that was in circulation prior to the 1959 communist revolution. He was one of my ancestors and a famous Cuban, once the richest man on the island, he gave all his money to free Cuba from Spain.

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