MEXICO: Hundreds of mariachi musicians gather in a Mexico City square to celebrate their patron saint

Record ID: 190353

  • Title: MEXICO: Hundreds of mariachi musicians gather in a Mexico City square to celebrate their patron saint
  • Date: 23rd November 2011
  • Summary: GIRL MARIACHI PLAYING VIOLIN
  • Embargoed: 8th December 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mexico, Mexico
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz,Religion,Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVA5WIP5QS87M24BOCHDKEMM8CSA
  • Story Text: Mexican mariachis celebrated their national day on Tuesday (November 22) with a festival of music and serenades.
    Clad in their traditional garb of cropped jackets and wide sombreros, the musicians gathered in one of the capital's main plazas where they gave a concert and heard mass in honour of Saint Cecilia.
    Mariachis originated in the 19th century in the southern state of Jalisco where they performed at festivals and weddings. Their instruments include guitars, violins and harp. Many modern day mariachi groups have eliminated the harp in favour of the trumpet.
    One musician, Mario Luna, explained the order of events.
    "Some 500-600 mariachis gather here to play the Mananitas (Mexican birthday song) directed by Regulo Villanueva. On the following day, at 10 o'clock we meet in Plaza Garibaldi to hear mass and then start marching in procession towards the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe."
    Another musician, Jose Yanez, said he loved being a mariachi.
    "We have faith because of everything we have seen. We love this job, accidents, a lot of emotions. We are asked to play for a new-born baby as well as a deceased loved one and people, with the music, feel joy and peace."
    The name "mariachi" came from French soldiers who arrived in Mexico in the 1800s and called the musicians "marriage", the French word for wedding.
    For the last 31 years, Mexico City's mariachis have organized themselves on November 22 to honour their patron saint, Cecilia.
    Following the concert in the Garibaldi, dozens of the mariachis marched in a procession to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, where they ended their day with a range of national songs.
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