San Valentin en Mexico

<body background="images/sep_TextureBackground23.gif" vlink="#0000FF" alink="#0000FF"> <table border="0" width="77%"> <tr> <td width="100%"> <p><img border="0" src="images/safeall.gif" width="48" height="45" align="right"></p> <table border="0" width="100%" height="258"> <tr> <td width="33%" height="254"> <table border="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="100%" style="border: 6 ridge #800000"> <p align="center"><a name="top"></a><img border="0" src="_derived/sanvalentin.htm_txt_MATR.gif" width="261" height="205"></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <p align="center">Aztec Marriage Ceremony</td> </tr> </table> </td> <td width="67%" height="254"> <p align="center"><b><i><font color="#800000" size="6">Día de San Valentín en México<br> </font><font color="#800000" size="4">About Love and Friendship</font></i></b></p> </td> </tr> </table> <p align="center"><i><b><font color="#800000">*</font><u><a href="index.htm" target="_top"><font color="#800000" size="4">Home</font></a></u></b></i><b><i><font color="#800000"><a href="index.htm" target="_top"><font size="4"> </font></a></font><font color="#800000" size="4">  *</font></i></b><a href="About%20Us/AboutusQuienesSomos.htm" target="_top"><i><b><font color="#800000" size="4">About Us</font></b></i></a><b><i><font color="#800000"><font size="4">   </font>*</font></i></b><i><font color="#800000"><a href="Catalog/catalogall.htm" target="_top"><b><font color="#800000" size="4">Video Catalog</font></b></a></font></i></p> <p align="center"><b><i><font color="#800000">*</font><a href="#Dia" target="_self">El Día del Amor y la Amistad</a>  <font color="#800000">*</font></i><font color="#800000"><i><u><a href="#wed">An Aztec Wedding</a></u>   *<u><a href="#bride">The Young Bride</a></u> <br> *<a href="#boda">The Wedding Ceremony</a>    *<a href="#serenata">Las Serenatas</a>   *<a href="#cancion">Una Canción  A Song<br> </a>*<a href="mailto:may@inside-mexico.com">Drop us a line...escríbenos.</a></i></font></b></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p align="left"><i><font size="4"><b><a name="Dia"></a>"La amistad es lluvia de flores preciosas"  </b></font></i></p> <p align="left">   <i><font size="4"><b> "Friendship is like a shower of precious flowers"    </b>     Aztec Poem</font></i></p> <p align="left"> </p> <p><font size="4" color="#800000"><b><u>El Día del Amor y la Amistad</u>                                                       <u><font size="2"><a href="#top" target="_self">Back to Top</a></font></u></b></font></p> <p><font size="3">As this fragment of a beautiful Aztec poem illustrates, since pre-Columbian times Mexicans  regard friendship very highly, considering it a precious gift of life.    Nowadays in Mexico, as in the rest of the world, we celebrate on February 14 <b><i>El Día de San Valentín</i></b>  popularly named <i><b>El Día del Amor y la Amistad</b></i>- the day of love and friendship.</font></p> <p><font size="3">All over town there are balloon vendors offering their colorful  heart shaped declarations of love, for most of them  have written on them "<i><b>Te Amo</b></i>" -I love you- "<b><i>Para mi amor</i></b>"-for my love, or "<b><i>Felicidades" -</i></b>congratulations.  Delicious chocolates, as well as flowers, especially red roses, and greeting cards are also sold in every store.</font></p> <p><font size="3">If in Mexico, don't even try to go to a restaurant with out a reservation made weeks before.  Couples of all ages go out for dinner on this special date.</font></p> <p><font size="3">As you can see, <i><b>El Día del Amor y la Amistad </b></i>is commemorated in Mexico in a way very similar to the manner in which the rest of the world celebrates, but surely, friendship and marriage had different expressions in pre-Columbian times.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Let us explore how an Aztec wedding was performed.</font></p> <p> </p> <p><font size="4" color="#800000"><b><u><a name="wed"></a>An Aztec Wedding</u>                                                                       <u><font size="2"><a href="#top" target="_self">Back to Top</a></font></u>                                                   <font size="4">                          </font></b></font></p> <p><font size="3">Aztec society was very structured and established rules that regulated almost all aspects of life.  Regarding marriage, a young Aztec boy was able to get married only after he reached the age of 20.  Most of them got married between the ages of 20 and 22.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Marriage was arranged between families, which meant that the young couple had little say in the matter, as was in most ancient societies. Of course there were some exceptions, and sometimes a young couple fell in love , and with the authorization of both families got married.</font></p> <p><font size="3">The first requirement to fulfill, in order to celebrate the matrimony, was that the young man had to complete his education and obtain permission from his teachers to leave school. </font></p> <p><font size="3"> His family had to offer a banquet for the teachers,  in which they would ask for the necessary permission.   They had to prepare  many dishes for this occasion including  <i><b>tamales</b></i> and <b><i>cacao</i></b> or chocolate.  </font></p> <p><font size="3">Afterwards, the old relatives of the groom, his father and the men of the neighborhood spoke to the educators while showing them an ax <b>"</b><i><b>that symbolizes the  desire of this young man to cut the ties that bind him to you, since he wants in his heart to get married; take this ax and permit our son to be liberated."</b></i></font></p> <p><font size="3">The teachers proceeded to accept the ax as a symbol of their consent  and after delivering a sermon in which they admonished the young man to be always obey the gods, to be honorable, to be a good provider for his wife and family and a brave warrior when at war,  they left the house.          ¡Obviously without any hard feelings!                       </font></p> <p><font size="4" color="#800000"><b><u><a name="bride"></a>The Young Bride</u>                                                                      <u><font size="2"><a href="#top" target="_self">Back to Top</a></font></u></b></font></p> <p><font size="3">The parents of the groom carefully select the bride for their son, requesting the advice of  the most respected fortunetellers. The wizards would study the signs under which each of the chosen girls was born, and then suggest the ideal bride for him.</font></p> <p><font size="3">Old women called <b><i>cihuatlanque</i></b>  request  on behalf of the groom's parents,  permission from the girl's family for the marriage to take place.   Traditionally the first time they visited the family, the parents denied their consent.   On the second visit, a couple of days later, and after a family council,  their authorization was granted.  Once again they feasted for several days, happy to have the two families joined by their children's wedding.  </font></p> <p><font size="3">The date for the ceremony was selected, once again by the fortunetellers, so the couple would have the best possible future together!</font></p> <p> </p> <p><font size="4" color="#800000"><b><u><a name="boda"></a>The Wedding Ceremony</u>                                                             <u><font size="2"><a href="#top" target="_self">Back to Top</a></font></u></b></font></p> <p><font size="3">On that special date, selected with so much love and faith in the promising future, the wedding was celebrated at night at the groom's home.  On that day, but in the afternoon, the bride participated on a ritual bath, washed her hair.  Then she had her arms and legs decorated with red feathers, and her face was painted with a yellow pigment.</font></p> <p><font size="3">The boy's family arrived and after telling her that they were very happy to have her be a part of their family, and showering her with presents, they all guided the girl to her new home. They walked through the streets, carrying torches, and singing  all the way.</font></p> <p><font size="3">When they arrive, the girl is handed an incensory.  The boy welcomes his bride at the door  holding an other incense burner.  They exchange this incense as a symbol of respect to one another.</font></p> <p><font size="3">They entered singing and dancing to their new home, where the old women,  the <i><b>cihuatlanque,</b></i> would tie their blouses together. </font></p> <p><font size="3">Now they were formally declared man and wife, and of course, another bountiful feast was given to celebrate such a fortunate event.</font></p> <p> </p> <p><font size="4" color="#800000"><b><u><a name="serenata"></a>Las Serenatas  Serenades</u>                                                                <u><font size="2"><a href="#top" target="_self">Back to Top</a></font></u></b></font></p> <p><font size="3">Coming back to modern times in Mexico, I must tell you about the <i><b>Serenatas. </b></i>  <br> </font></p> <p>Mexicans have an incredibly romantic way of expressing their love:  <i><b>las serenatas.</b></i></p> <p>The boyfriend waits patiently for the sun to go down.  Then in the town's <b><i>plaza </i></b>he hires a group of <i><b>mariachis </b></i> or a <i><b>trio</b></i> of singers with guitars, and goes to his girlfriend's house.  There, on the street, under his loved one's window, they all start to sing the most romantic and heartfelt songs.</p> <p>The purpose of the <b><i>serenata </i></b>is to wakeup the girlfriend, with songs that will touch her heart.    The girl wakes up, but lets the musicians play two or three songs before looking out of her window, while her boyfriend anxiously awaits.</p> <p>At last the girl appears on her balcony, or window, which signifies that she is pleased, and approves of her boyfriend's serenade. (You can be sure that no woman can resist such a sweet expression of love).  There will follow more romantic songs, and the boy, satisfied with his success will even sing while the musicians play.</p> <p> If the parents of the girlfriend approve, they could even invite him in, and chat for a little while.</p> <p>In the meantime, the neighbors ,that don't play any part in this romance, will try to go back to sleep, while nostalgically remembering the serenades of their youth.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><font size="4" color="#800000"><b><u><a name="cancion"></a>Una Canción   A Song</u>                                                                            <u><font size="2"><a href="#top" target="_self">Back to Top</a></font></u></b></font></p> <p>A perfect example of the profoundly romantic Mexican songs is <b><i>Despierta.</i></b></p> <p> </p> <table border="1" width="100%" height="547"> <tr> <td width="48%" height="541"> <h1><font color="#800000">Despierta</font></h1> <br> Despierta<br> Dulce amor de mi vida,<br> Despierta,<br> Si te encuentras dormida.<br> Escucha mi voz vibrar bajo tu ventana,<br> Con esta canción te vengo a entregar el alma.<br> Perdona (perdóname)<br> Si interrumpo tu sueño,<br> Pero no pude más<br> Y esta noche te vengo a decir:<br> Te quiero.<br> <br> Perdona (perdona)<br> Si interrumpo tu sueño,<br> Pero no pude más<br> Y esta noche te vengo a decir:<br> Te quiero. <p>Te quiero, te adoro mi amor.<br> </p> <p> </td> <td width="52%" height="541"><b><font color="#800000" size="6"><br> Wake Up</font></b> <p>Wake up<br> Sweet love of my life,<br> Wake up,<br> If your asleep.<br> Listen to my voices vibrating under your window,<br> With this song I come to offer you my soul.<br> Forgive me<br> If I interrupt your sleep.<br> I could no longer wait.<br> And tonight I come to say<br> that I love you.</p> <p>Forgive me<br> If I interrupt your sleep.<br> I could no longer wait.<br> And tonight I come to say<br> that I love you.</p> <p>I love you, I adore you my love.<br> </p> <p><br> </td> </tr> </table> <p align="center"><font color="#800000" size="4"><b>¡Felíz Día de San Valentín!   ¡Feliz Día del Amor y la Amistad!</b></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="4" color="#800000"><b><u><font size="2"><a href="#top" target="_self">Back to Top</a></font></u></b></font></p> <p align="center"><b><i><font size="4"><a name="contactus"></a><img border="0" src="images/cartita_para_contact_us.gif" width="65" height="35"><a href="mailto:may@inside-mexico.com">We would like to hear from you</a></font></i></b><a href="mailto:may@inside-mexico.com">.</a> <br> (<font size="2">Click to drop us a line)</font></p> <p><font face="Verdana">©1999-2000 Inside Mexico, All Rights Reserved.<br> Webmaster: Alfonso Olvera (<a href="mailto:may@inside-mexico.com">webmaster@inside-mexico.com</a>)</font></p>  <script language="JavaScript1.1"> </script> <noscript> <p><img border="0" src="http://i97.netscape.com/c.cgi?B3053197$2492086" alt="Hitometer"></noscript>  <p><font face="Verdana">  </font></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>This page uses frames, but your browser doesn't support them.</p> <p> </td> </tr> </table> </body>