Hispanic Folk Arts & the Environment
About this project

Characteristics of Hispanic Life in the Río Grande Region

Retention of Traditional Forms

As a remote colony of Spain for over two centuries, a province of the Republic of Mexico for twenty-five years, and a territory and state of the United States for a century and a half, the Hispanic people of the Río Grande valley have maintained the vitality of their traditional folk arts. Traditions that are waning in many regions of Spain, Mexico and Latin America continue to evolve in New Mexico. Examples such as the pageantry of Moros y Cristiano (Moors and Christians) and Los Matachines, a line dance, and songs such as the alabados (hymns) and the Entrega de Novios, which celebrates newlyweds, are still practiced.

Cultural Blending and Adaptability

The process of cultural blending that occurred in Mexico between Spanish and native peoples continued in the valleys of the Río Grande, which were already occupied by the Pueblos and visited by the Navajos, Comanche, Ute and Apache peoples. Certain ideas, tools, materials, methods and products of local native origin were absorbed into the folklife of the Hispanic people of the Río Grande. Examples include the integration of corn into the daily diet, the use of bows and arrows in hunting, the wearing of moccasins, the incorporation of Navajo designs in blankets, and the inclusion of dances such as Los Comanches and Inditas music. Examples of cultural blending with Anglo Americans include the use of aniline dyes in weaving and the adoption of materials and styles in building construction, such as corrugated roofing and Greek Revival architectural elements.

Frugality and Inventiveness

The folk arts of the Hispanic people of the Río Grande exhibit a sense of frugality and inventiveness stimulated in part by a scarcity of tools and materials. Certain materials such as metal, cloth, paper and wood were routinely recycled. Additionally, a single item might serve multiple uses such as the shepherd's fireplace used for cooking food and for warming an adjacent alcove used for sleeping. Examples include the use of wooden pintle hinges when iron was scarce, rag rugs and tin sconces made from discarded food tins.

Centrality of Religion

Much of the material and oral culture as well as the music, song and dance of the Hispanic people of the Río Grande is permeated by Catholicism, and to a lesser degree, by the remnants of pre-Christian beliefs as evidenced in folk tales and legends. Examples of Catholic influence are the forms of greeting such as "Buenos Dias le dé Dios," ("may God grant you good days"), pilgrimages to holy shrines such as the Santuario de Chimayó, and the strong santero tradition of carving and painting Catholic saints.

Community Spirit

The folklife of the Hispanic people rose from an intensely cooperative sense of work and celebration based on the extended family. Entire villages such as Los Lunas, Los Duranes and Barelas near Albuquerque might be comprised of single extended families. Common lands, called mercedes, provided everyone with access to important natural resources such as piñon, cedar and pine woods, pasturage, deposits of clay and stone, as well as hunting grounds.

The cleaning of the acequias (ditches), the building and maintenance of churches, and even the tasks of sowing and harvesting were all carried out collectively. People today still refer to one another with the kinship terms of hermano and hermana (brother and sister), or the more common diminutive and abbreviated forms manito or manita, primo or prima (cousin) and compadre and comadre (terms of ritual kinship between parents and god-parents).

An Intimate Bond with the Natural Environment

The folk arts of the Hispanic people of the Río Grande reflect a dependence upon the local environment. The broad alluvial plain of the Río Grande valley offers a perfect soil for adobe when mixed with straw from the fields and water from the acequias. The surrounding forested areas of the Sangre de Cristo and the Jémez Mountains have provided the timbers for vigas (roof beams) and the saplings for latillas (poles set in a pattern between vigas).

The Hispanic people of the region have historically relied on sheep's wool for making frazadas or blankets, sarapes or protective outer coats, and jerga or carpets. Brought from Spain by way of Mexico, churro sheep adapted to the climate and environment of the Río Grande. Like their Pueblo Indian neighbors, the Hispanic people practiced both farming and hunting as well as herding. By channeling the run-off water from the melting snows through a system of acequias or irrigation channels, they were able to produce an abundance of food.

Las metas del presente currículo, Hispanic Folk Arts and the Environment: A New Mexican Perspective (Artes Populares Hispanos y el Medio Ambiente: Una Perspectiva Nuevo Mexicana) son varias:

1. Familiarizar a los maestros y alumnos con las necesidades básicas de la vida: hogar, comida y vestido o sea,las artes populares básicas.

2. Fomentar un aprecio por las artes populares hispanas de Nuevo México en forma práctica e interdisciplinaría.

3. Enseñarles a los maestos y alumnos la historia de un ramo del pueblo hispano en Estados Unidos a través de sus artes populares.

4. Estudiar un modelo antiguo de interacción entre la vida popular y el medio ambiente de un pueblo.

5. Inspirar a los maestros y alumnos a participar en su propio medio ambiente a traves de las artes populares.

6. Promover un aprecio por la tierra y por el esfuerzo humano.

La primera lección: Tierra, Río y Asentamientos Hispanos examina los rasgos físicos y geográficos de esta región y sus primeros pobladores empezando con los indígenas Pueblo. La segunda lección: Creando Comunidad: Las Raíces del Adobe examina la tradición de la construcción de viviendas en adobe. La tercera lección: Artes Populares del Hogar: Tejidos, Estilo Río Grande da atención a las "fresadas" tejidas de la lana de las ovejas y empleadas en el hogar para mantenerse caliente en el invierno y como abrigos. La tercera leccion: Las Comidas del Río Grande explora las comidas principales del pueblo hispano de esta región: el maíz, la calabaza, el frijol, el chile y el trigo.

Introducción al Currículo

Todas las culturas son un producto de su medio ambiente y reflejan las características de su tierra, su cielo, sus mares y sus ríos. El Río Grande que origina en las montañas de Colorado y que atraviesa el centro de Nuevo México ha sostenido la vida de las comunidades indígenas así como las de los hispanos por muchos siglos. Como todos los grandes ríos, el Río Grande ha hecho posible una agricultura cuya producción de granos y frutas permitió el desarollo de una vida popular rica e integrada.

La vida popular es la expresión cultural tradicional de un pueblo que comparte una misma ancestría, historia y perspectiva ante el mundo. Abarca las actividades de la provisión de comida, hogar y ropa además de las actividades de música, danza y trasmisión de cuentos, mitos y leyendas.

Las artes populares se definen por una estética desarollada por la misma comunidad. Las artes populares se transmiten oralmente o a través de ejemplo por los miembros de un mismo grupo étnico, religioso, regional, ocupacional o de la misma edad o género.

Las artes populares del pueblo hispano de la región del Río Grande de Nuevo México comparten las siguientes características: un conservatismo de formas antiguas y tradicionales ya no acostumbradas en otras partes del mundo Hispano, una fusión de culturas (hispana e indígena) y su adaptibilidad a una nueva geografía. Las artes hispanas de Nuevo México también se caracterizan por una economía de materiales, por la influencia de la religión católica, por el fuerte sentido de comunidad y por una relación íntima con la naturaleza.