MEXICO: Mariachics serenade Mexico City en masse to celebrate patron saint

Record ID: 190376

  • Title: MEXICO: Mariachics serenade Mexico City en masse to celebrate patron saint
  • Date: 22nd November 2013
  • Summary: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (NOVEMBER 22, 2013) (REUTERS) CONDUCTOR LEADING MARIACHI MUSICIANS HOMAGE TO MARIACHI PATRON SAINT CECILIA VARIOUS OF MARIACHIS PERFORMING
  • Embargoed: 7th December 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mexico
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics: Entertainment,Religion,Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVA6V6H4GNGET2VJ4S4WGJ6WTZM
  • Story Text: Mexico's legendary marching Mariachis celebrate the feast day of Saint Cecilia, their patron saint, with a pilgrimage to the Basilica of Guadalupe.

    Mexican mariachis marked their national day on Thursday (November 22) celebrating with a festival of music and serenades.
    Clad in their traditional garb of cropped jackets and wide sombreros, the mariachi musicians young and old banded together in Mexico City's iconic Garibaldi Plaza to serenade the capital's downtown before marching in procession to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
    For years, Mexico City's mariachis have gathered on November 22 to honour their patron saint, Cecilia.
    "To give thanks to our patron saint, the patron saint of music Saint Cecilia, we're celebrating with a big mass here and then we're going on the road for a pilgrimage from here to the Basilica (of Guadalupe), thanking her for all she has blessed us with," said mariachi musician Ricardo Martinez.
    Mariachis originated in the 19th century in the western state of Jalisco where they performed at festivals and weddings. Their instruments include guitars, violins and harps but many modern day mariachi groups have eliminated the harp in favour of the trumpet.
    The name "mariachi" came from French soldiers who arrived in Mexico in the 1800s and called the musicians "marriage", the French word for wedding.
    But today mariachis don't only perform at nuptials, but at any occasion that's worth celebrating.
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