Sitting in Gazebo Park Saturday with mariachi music wafting through the air, surrounded by the joyful sounds of familias speaking Spanish, I imagined I was back in Mexico at one of the small plazas that grace most towns there. Around noon on Saturday, I stepped out of my car and unfurled my Freda Kahlo umbrella as the earlier rain turned to drizzle. Had missed the morning program of Benicia’s first annual Fiesta de Primavera but was in for a treat. I had seen the posters around town where the theme appeared to be a celebration of spring through Mexican and Hispanic culture. An impressive stage and sound system was erected next to the gazebo where top Latino talent performed their hearts out. NBC Bay Area News had a nice story on the Festival later that evening.
A fellow with long wooly buffalo skin chaps, a black bandana covering most of his face, and threatening looking black ram’s horns on his head was intimidating. He was holding a red devil face mask, and a whip. His many compadres — Los Diablos de Oaxaquenos del Valle — included boys and men dressed in similar garb — scary and humorous all at the same time. One devil was sticking out his long, curling red tongue, while another’s piercing blue eyes blinked electronically. In contrast to their furry leg wear, they wore brightly colored sports coats with long silk scarves around their necks and sported rattles around their ankles which was hypnotic after a few minutes. Some of them carried whips. One tiny devil cracked his whip consistently throughout the day even when he wasn’t dancing as onlookers gave him a wide berth.
The goal seemed to be who could dance the longest without collapsing and most of them danced energetically, by my count at least 20 minutes, until only one or two were left standing. Their endurance was remarkable considering the fact that they never stopped moving and had to breathe through pinholes in their masks. I was exhausted. To see some fun photos of the dancers check out their Facebook page.
Singer Elisabeth Rodriguez Duran brought down the house covering a few of Selena’s songs, singing her sad ballads — corridos — about love, death, and longing. I thought I was videoing her on my phone but instead got five minutes of video of my boot tapping the grass in tune to the beat.
The Mariachis were next. They had been waiting patiently while the Devils wore themselves out. Images of Mariachi Square in Guadalajara came to mind as the trumpeter blasted out the first notes of a lively cancion. My favorite is always “Guadalajara” which makes me burst out in song, but they didn’t play it, a blessing for those in the vicinity. The mariachis were underway when a man in the audience spotted Rodriguez Duran and convinced her to get back up on the stage and sing with the mariachis, which she did after protesting a bit. She had taken off her black stilettos and was in her sneakers and parka but that didn’t impact the quality of her performance one bit. Maravilloso!
Regretted that I missed the opening announcements but gathered that organizers and sponsors of the event were BUSD parents, the Benicia AIDS coalition, the School District, Kyle Hyland Foundation, and others who were concerned about racism in Benicia, had zero tolerance for it, and wanted to celebrate diversity.
The notorious La Migra game played for the past 20 years by high school students was a catalyst for creating the festival. The “game” which has been held after school is chase and capture where seniors take on the role of ICE agents tracking down freshmen students representing migrants. This hateful and dangerous game sadly often mirrors on a smaller scale the national and international political games played by adults.
An eloquent long form poem written and recited by Marcos Jackson, one of two high school students awarded scholarships this year, addressed the damage caused by La Migra and suggested ways of transforming that activity with tolerance and inclusion as an intention. Student Spencer Ball was awarded the second scholarship, graciously thanking his counselor for her support and encouragement.
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An enormous tent next to the gazebo housed examples of Latino art and culture. Ethnic Notions Multicultural Bookstore had a booth, as did Black Lives Matters selling attractive black and white tee shirts. https://blacklivesmatterbenicia.weebly.com.
Two larger than life elegant mannequins were dressed in sumptuous gowns from the Revolutionary period, one all black satin and lace, mutton sleeves, and huge red embroidered roses on the skirt. As I was taking this all in, Mari Romero and her daughter Rosie, who were also admiring the dress, answered my questions about the historical significance of the Virgin and the red roses on her dress. Fascinating. “Are you a teacher?” I asked. “Yes. I teach preschool in the BUSD.” I wasn’t surprised. Lucky kids. When I got home I read more about Juan Diego and his vision of the Virgin of Guadalupe, patroness and protector of New Spain, and, ironically, also a symbol of the Mexican independence movement.
BUSD had a table which was manned (spell check won’t let me write woman with an “ed”) by Dr. Leslie Beatson, District Vice Superintendent and Stephanie Rice, Director of Educational Services. They were seeking in-put on their ethnic studies course which was offered for the first time this year. “We have over 30 different languages in the BUSD,” said Rice. I’m sure that they were celebrating their recent big win at the polls earlier this month which allows the District to issue up to $122,000,000 in bonds for school facilities improvement.
As I returned home I felt like I’d been away for Semana Santa, something I did every Easter week for many years, traveling in Jalisco, Michoacan, Guanajuato, and Oaxaca. Next year will plan to spend the day at the Fiesta and take advantage of la comida offered by vendors lined up alongside the park on First Street. Carnitas, homemade tortillas, and salsa. Muy sabrosa!
Letters From Benicia 