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Yes, Marge, let's do more of this sharing of experiences. We are all from the areas that Joseph specified as the focus of the group, and I for one want and need to know about words, sayings, customs, the economy, life-style, etc of my father's people and of his times. Emilie ----- Original Message ----- From: Margarita Vallazza Sent: Sunday, June 26, 2005 5:35 PM To: ranchos@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [ranchos] FOOD and old world traditions What a wonderful story you have shared! When I went to Jerez in late
November 2000, I was only there for a few hours because the altitude
was killing me...my husband and I stayed in Zacatecas city and man!!!
was I ever sick. We cut short our trip and flew to Juarez, crossed the
border to El Paso, spent the night at my sister's house, drove to
Albuquerque, and then drove home to KC.
I loved being there...and wanted spend more time there. As far as I
know, my grandmother had no living relatives there left, I did touch
base with some very, very distant relatives and spoke about family
history. My grandmother's madrina was Trinidad Berumen, which is the
name of a famous poet's mother. There are numerous family names we
share.
Let's do more of this! Marge:)
On Jun 26, 2005, at 1:02 PM, Erlinda Castanon-Long wrote:
> My paternal line is also from District of Jerez Zacatecas. In 1936 my
> father was there for 3 months working and living with his grandparents
> (Sanchez/Reveles.) He said for breakfast they had a mush made from
> pumpkin and milk. At noon time while they worked in the fields the
> women would bring taquito's made from corn torillas, beans and white
> cheese on the side. Dinner was light. He talked about them drying
> chili's on the ground and someone having to stay up all night with
> them so the animals wouldn't eat them. He said the old men would
> roll 'tunas" from the cactus on the ground to remove the thorns for
> the children and peel them with a really sharp knife. He said while
> the men worked the women would take the laundry to the river to wash
> on the rocks and then jump in to bathe with all their cloths still on.
> very modest. He said they ate nopales which grew everywhere. He said
> they road horses to Jerez which was 5 mi! les away.
>
> When I visited 2 years ago they were still doing all this except
> jumping in the river. They had washers but most still washed in a
> cement tub. Turns out the washers were gifts from their children on
> this side of the border. They prefered the old ways. The locals said
> during the revolution when many left, like my gr-grandparents
> (Castanon/Caldera) in 1916, El Durazno was called the village of the
> dead and starving. In doing the records from this time period I was
> amazed at how many were described as died from starvation or found on
> the roadside dead from starvation.
>
> I found the customs in the area to still be from the old school. I
> wanted to walk alone at 6am to take photos and observe. I was told
> this would reflect poorly on my family for me to walk the streets
> alone, I was 58 at the time. They got their daughter of out bed to
> accompany me. Old traditions still abound. I was also told it was my
> responsibility to go to the senior member of my family and offer my
> respect. I didn't even know I had family there when I arrived. I
> ended up going to 14 homes offering my and my families respect. When
> it was time to leave I had to go back and "despenser" sp.. myself. At
> 11pm the last night a family came who said I didn't visit them so they
> came to me... I had no idea.. They also asked why their American
> cousins had forgotten them? I had no answers for them. The senior
> member was 96 years old and remembered my grandmother, her Tia. They
> pulled out photos of me when I wa! s 2 years old! When it comes to
> customs and manners I found I had a lot to learn from new found family
> members and thier old world ways. I'm sure others visiting the "Old"
> country have found similar experiences.
> Linda
>
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