Monday, May 08, 2006

About San Antonio's middle name

In my last posting, I celebrated Cinco de Mayo, and spelled out the true significance of the holiday. Also, I told about how this holiday is actually celebrated more ardently among Chicanos or Mexican-Americans than it is by residents of Mexico in general.

Well, later on Friday evening I attended a rather unique Cinco de Mayo observance, on the Westside at Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center. The San Antonio Symphony gave a free concert, accompanied on some of the musical numbers by dancers of the local Guadalupe troupe. I was rather surprised that the symphony folk wore casual polo shirts (when one hears the word "symphony" it calls up images of men in tuxes & bow ties and women in log evening gowns). But never mind the apparel, they sounded terrific! And the dancers likewise were talented. There was more than one standing ovation!

So, even tho' Fiesta had ended six days earlier, Cinco de Mayo had called forth festive spirit once again in San Antonio. Indeed, El Mercado, the Mexican Marketplace, had food & souvenir booths set up again (or left set up from Fiesta?) and a sound stage for live musical celebration of the 5 May holiday.

In earlier years, when Fiesta was over and I sent out e-mail to that effect, I would conclude that it was time to get back to "a normal life - if normal is possible in a city whose middle name is 'party'!"

Truly, if the City of Saint Anthony has a middle name it IS "party". Right after Fiesta is Cinco de Mayo and also this past weekend the Tejano Conjunto Festival (as if my Chicano neighbors hadn't had en'uf of the border-born accordion-driven music during the nights of "Tejano Explosion" at Cattlemen's Square during Fiesta). Mother's Day is this Sunday, when many S.A. moms will get serenaded with Las Mañanitas, a traditional birthday and other special occasion song from Mexico. Then comes Memorial Day (big observance at Fort Sam Houston National Military Cemetery, among others), then early June's Texas Folklife Festival. . .

Get the picture? San Antonio's middle name IS "party"!

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