New Haven Independent

Tlaloc — Let the Rains Come

The spring time marks the traditional dances of Carnival. Typically, these dances happen the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. In New Haven the tradition is kept alive by several groups from Tlaxcala, notably those from Santa Inés Zacatelco, Santa Apolonia Teacalco, Papalotla, and San Francisco Tetlanohcan. Each town has their own distinctive dance and clothing.

It has been said that these dances have two sources. The first origin is indigenous. Before the arrival of Hernán Cortes and the Spanish, the indigenous people would dance to invoke the god of the water, Tlaloc, that he might send rain to begin the growing season. The spectacular capes are dazzled with sequences, symbolizing rain/water. They are hand embroidered with roses, images of our Lady of Guadalupe, the Eagle and Snake of the Mexican flag, La Malinche, or other significant religious/cultural icons.

Having spent sometime in New Haven, Don Norberto and Doña Gloria (pictured), returned to San Cosme-San Damien Mazatecochco, Tlaxcala. I visited them in their home and place of work. Long part of the textile industry of the area, Norberto and Gloria produce some the typical folkloric clothing used by the “charros” for export to the north.

The dancers, “Charros,” wear a very elaborate head piece that is adorned with feathers, taking the form a flower. You will see in some of the dances the use of a large whip, (cuárta), which when swung by the “Charro,” makes a loud crack, symbolizing thunder. The cuárta also represents the snakes that come out of the dormant volcano, Malinche, when the rains come.

This video clip is from the celebration this year in New Haven. Because of inclement weather, the Charros moved their dance from the street to the church hall.

The Tlaxcaltecas were the only indigenous people who were never dominated by the Aztecs. (Cortes formed alliances with them, aided by an indigenous woman, Malinche, who served as his translator. Through these alliances, Cortes was able to topple the Aztec empire, and thus begin the conquest.) There continues to be a fierce sense of independence and strength among the people from Tlaxcala. Their dances of carnival came to represent that tenacity. Attempts by the Spanish to prohibit the dances, were rejected by the people. The masks of the Charros, typically carved from wood, are hand painted to reflect the Spanish/European landowners, and to playfully mock them and their assumption of power over the people.

Previous entries:
• Entry #4
• Entry # 3
•Entry #2
• Entry #1