(Zarco Guerrero) Turn around to face the long wall of dance drama masks. Look at the right section of the masks used for the dramatization of the Parachicos story. Every year, in Chiapa de Corzo, during the feast of San Sabastian, the Fiesta of Parachicos is celebrated. Countless variations exist as to how this fiesta originated. But no one particularly holds more truth than the other. Gayle Castañeda shares with us one popular version that has survived generations of story telling and re-telling.
(Gayle Castañeda) This mask represents the blond-haired, blue-eyed Spaniards who tried to amuse and distract this young boy during his illness. After his recovery, the boy's wealthy mother, Doña María de Ajielo—also, I have heard it—read about it Doña María de Angulo.
The wealthy mother distributed food to nearby villagers in gratitude for her son's recovery, thereby initiating this dance. Now, whether this is—blond-haired, blue-eyed Spaniards would not have been the villagers. So, in some legends, I have heard the villagers did this dance and performing. But, they certainly would not have been blue-eyed, blond-haired Spaniards. So, whether this is another group of Spaniards in the town that did this and just out of gratitude. All the villagers reaped the benefits of the curing.
But, as I say, there are many different versions. So, depending on what version you read, there's a little bit of a difference. But, that's the basic legend. This Spanish noble woman's son was cured. And, as a result, out of gratitude, she helped the entire village with food. Because, also, I believe in one of the legends, there had been a drought. And so, she helped them with food and tried to help the neighborhood, the village, the town of Chiapa de Corzo.
Special Thanks to Gateway for their support of this project.
Many thanks also to the University of Arizona Disability Resources Center for transcribing the tour episodes.
