As a Mexican-American born and raised in San Antonio, the week-long train referred to as Fiesta® has been a part of my life since I used to be born. As a child, my household attended the Battle of Flowers Parade religiously, and when my dad and stepmom purchased a home in King William whereas I used to be nonetheless in elementary college, we acquired to see the King William Truthful develop from a tiny little arts fest into some of the standard (and crowded) occasions for households and singles alike.
Whether or not you’re a Latino child dwelling on the West Facet or a member of King Antonio’s Court docket, one factor is definite: Fiesta brings out San Antonio delight, strengthening our id and sense of group as we smash cascarones on one another, watch the Battle of Flowers, and scarf down chicken-on-a-stick. College students march in parades and take part in battle of the bands, native nonprofits acquire consciousness and funding, and the traditions that we move on (good and unhealthy) are all a part of the enjoyable.
Most San Antonians know that Fiesta is a 10-day celebration boasting greater than 100 official occasions that characteristic music, meals, pageantry, and parades. However have you ever ever questioned why on earth there’s an “Order of the Alamo” and a pair dozen duchesses who’re topped in an annual “Coronation”? For a fast however informative run-down of the occasion’s historical past, Wikipedia doesn’t disappoint. For a extra formal narrative, go to the official Fiesta San Antonio web site and dive on in.
However let’s minimize to the chase. Fiesta is a boatload of enjoyable, considered one of my favourite occasions of yr, however to fake it doesn’t have an “us and them” really feel could be to disregard some of the evident contrasts that our metropolis serves up on a platter yearly. I grew up in Alamo Heights for my childhood, and will at all times rely on one factor within the weeks main as much as Fiesta: a go to from King Antonio and his Court docket and a brand new, free, shiny medal in my pocket. Who have been these glitzy individuals who marched into our world? With a reputation like King Antonio, he have to be actually vital, my second-grade self thought. He have to be crucial particular person in all of San Antonio!
It wasn’t till I used to be in center college, when my dad determined to run for El Rey Feo (translation: “the Ugly King”) that I acquired a bit extra inquisitive about what all this pomp and circumstance was about. What was the take care of two Courts? And why was one all Anglo and the opposite principally Hispanic?
“San Antonio is a majority Latino metropolis,” my dad defined. “After some time we Mexican-Individuals acquired a bit bored with the official king at all times being Anglo, and we determined we’d crown considered one of our personal. Not solely would we poke a bit enjoyable at the entire thing, we’d do good on the identical time, donating cash raised to the LULAC scholarship fund. So El Rey Feo was born, and whereas anybody may throw his hat within the ring, it will be the one who raised essentially the most cash for scholarships who would truly be topped King.”
Muy interesante, certainly.
My dad didn’t win the primary yr he ran—that feat goes to Johnny Gabriel, who blew the earlier fundraising document out of the water. However the next yr Dad acquired his flip, and my seventh-grade self was launched to motorized escorts (for pretend royalty…actually?), lavish events, every week’s keep at a penthouse lodge downtown, and different over-the-top enjoyable. What a spectacle! Oh, and I mustn’t fail to say the icing on the cake—my father and his whole Court docket coming to my college, barging into my studying classroom, and saying that I used to be “Princess Cristina” whereas he pinned considered one of his ubiquitous medals on my shirt. You higher consider I acquired teased for that one for some time.
In accordance with the official Fiesta web site, “The emergence of two Fiesta kings constructed a bridge between each of the town’s main cultures. Each kings go to hospitals, faculties, and nursing houses along with making their look at Fiesta occasions.” Certainly, each courts appear to be working full steam forward today, spreading Fiesta cheer as they parade round city with their entourages.
Facet notice: In its 100 plus-year historical past, there has solely been one Latino King Antonio, and that didn’t occur till final yr. As a San Antonio Specific-Information article identified, “Take into account that it has taken almost a century for a Latino—particularly, Dr. Michael Casillas—to rise to a publish named ‘Antonio,’ Spanish for Anthony, in a predominantly Mexican-American metropolis the place Native American teams have lived for greater than 10,000 years, adopted by newcomers similar to Spanish missionaries, Tejano and Mexican soldier-settlers, and Canary Islanders. The primary Latino King Antonio is a really huge deal for San Antonio traditionally, sociologically, socioeconomically, culturally, and politically. It says quite a bit in regards to the males who elected him and for San Antonio’s future within the third millennium.”
Not too way back my daughter attended a Lady Scouts camp on the native facility positioned deep on the West Facet. Dad and mom may select to have their youngsters bused from a location on the North Facet or drop them off on the precise facility. An Anglo buddy whom I take into account to be extraordinarily progressive and culturally delicate and conscious went to select up her baby on the camp, and I may inform it was like a area journey to a overseas nation for her. She had by no means pushed by this a part of city earlier than, by no means explored the taquerias and parks and different treasures of the West Facet. Her feedback made it clear that this was a very eye-opening expertise, and it jogged my memory that my geographic and socioeconomic mobility shouldn’t be the norm on this metropolis.
What does this should do with Fiesta, it’s possible you’ll be questioning? The divide between the haves and the have-nots is magnified throughout Fiesta. King Antonio and his Court docket are predominantly Anglo, whereas the town is over two-thirds Latino and continues to be some of the economically and racially segregated cities within the U.S. The poorest neighborhoods are nearly fully Latino or African American, whereas the wealthiest neighborhoods skew Caucasian. As a center class, educated Latina, I’ve the posh of transferring effortlessly between these neighborhoods and observing the hanging variations. Actually, although, I usually really feel a bit conflicted throughout Fiesta.
On one hand, isn’t it nice that, along with an excuse to celebration for a week-and-a-half, Fiesta raises cash for worthy causes round city? Possibly that’s the trade-off. The rich get to decorate up and really feel much more particular and vital, and youngsters get scholarships, particular wants training receives funding, historical past is preserved, and cash is raised for drugs and the humanities. You already know what? I’ll take it. However I’ll even be the primary to level out the irony of being so brazenly lavish to assist these in want. Whereas it was enjoyable being handled like royalty as a tween, it was at all times abundantly clear to me that this wasn’t actual life—and that among the Fiesta VIPs appeared to take themselves approach too critically. Which brings me to an apparent query: when is somebody going to make a actuality present about all this and money in on the loopy?
As a guardian and native San Antonian, I get pleasure from making Fiesta a enjoyable household affair as a lot as the subsequent particular person. I attempt to give my youngsters a various vary of experiences and train them the historical past of this citywide celebration. From parade watching with the plenty to journeys to El Mercado, King William Truthful, and the Charreada, the Noriegas like to don our flower crowns, take heed to mariachi music, eat fried meals, and take our possibilities on suspect-looking carnival rides.
However, even whereas I’m having a blast with a margarita in a single hand and a mayonesa-smothered elote within the different, the very actual contrasts stay ever-present. Maybe that’s why my husband and I are particularly huge followers of the Cornynation, because it routinely proves that Latinos will not be the one group to poke enjoyable on the conventional Fiesta Royalty—the LGBTQ inhabitants nails it higher than anybody. It feels fairly good to have permission to snicker out loud on the ridiculousness of all of it.
In the event you love Fiesta as a lot as I do and are searching for increasing your horizons a bit, maybe this yr plan your schedule a bit in another way. Scope out the listing of official occasions and dare to experiment outdoors your consolation zone. If you wish to dig deeper into true Chicano tradition, cease by Piñatas en el Barrio on the Guadalupe Theatre or dance your coronary heart away at Tejano Explosion. For an attractive and genuine present, shut out with Fiesta on the Charreada– A Day in Previous Mexico. I can let you know from private expertise, Fiesta is much more enjoyable and attention-grabbing whenever you take the time to strive one thing new and completely different every time; don’t fear—your tried-and-true favorites will nonetheless be there to welcome you with open arms.
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