Yucatecan Traditions 2

“Vaquerias” 

The “vaquerías” were festivities, on which the ancient

landowners celebrated the good cattle production during the year, that’s why the term “Vaquería”. In this celebration the women used to attend the guests and their wives and eventually danced Mayan sounds combined with Spanish music, in honor of the owner of the estate. Nowadays, the “vaquerias” continue being practiced in the settlements of Yucatan to celebrate the saint of the town.

The main attraction of these celebrations is the “Jarana” dance. The “Jarana” is the typical dance of the Yucatan Peninsula, and is the result of mixing the “jota española” and Mayan “sonecillos”. During the performance, couples dance to an orchestra and a “Jaranera” brass band that consists of two trumpets, two clarinets, two trombones, kettledrums and a guiro.

Also during the course of the dance, people usually recite famous “bombas” which are quatrains that pay somebody compliment. The “bombas” can be romantic, playful or mischievous; they reflect the distinctive yucatecan humor.

Though there is no special costume required to dance the “jarana”. Women usually wear the typical yucatecan huipil. Others wear the gala terno. White shoes and a delicately hand-knitted shawl complete the dancer´s costume. Traditionally men dress a typical mestizo garb of white pants and a silk or linen “guayabera”, whit a woven palm hat and colorful bandanna peeking out of the front pocket.