As a filmmaker and storyteller, when planning my travels in search of stories I always seek out destinations with rich color and culture. I set my lens on exploring the less-traveled city of Mérida in the Yucatán for this very reason. After arriving in this vibrant Yucatán city and wandering around town to practice my Spanish with locals, I quickly found dancing plays such a role in the community here. I’d heard about La Vaquería while researching Mérida but seeing it in person was such a treat! There were celebrations in the parks and squares that happen almost every night of the week.
As a filmmaker and storyteller, when planning my travels in search of stories I always seek out destinations with rich color and culture. I set my lens on exploring the less-traveled city of Mérida in the Yucatán for this very reason. After arriving in this vibrant Yucatán city and wandering around town to practice my Spanish with locals, I quickly found dancing plays such a role in the community here. I’d heard about La Vaquería while researching Mérida but seeing it in person was such a treat! There were celebrations in the parks and squares that happen almost every night of the week.
The history of La Vaquería is that the Mayans came here the first time and tried to change the local religion. Each town in the Yucatán the Spaniards named after a saint. All towns in Yucatán have a real Vaquería once a year when the main Catholic saint of the town is celebrated. In Mérida, the real La Vaquería is celebrated on the same day as when Mérida was founded: January 6th each year. The one on Monday’s in town is more historical while the yearly real celebration in each town has some jaranas and after they play contemporary music.
Jarana cannot be directly translated to its true meaning in English. Jaranas are typical rhythmic dances to the Yucatán Peninsula. Jaranas are always done in pairs with dancing, almost like a competition between a man and a woman while a band is playing. The men wear fancy open-toe heeled white shoes with shiny gems on them with white pants, white shoes, and a white hat. The ladies wear closed-toe white heels decorated with flowers, an all-white dress with beautiful stitched colorful flowers, and ribbon woven flowers in their hair.
A Few of the Different Jaranas I Watched
A FEW OF THE DIFFERENT JARANAS I WATCHED:
Angaripola
The opening Jarana for La Vaquería
El Torito
Showing how a bullfight is taking place. The woman is the bull and the man is the bullfighter, or in Spanish el torero.
Ferrocaril
Where the men and women place a tray with drinks on top of their head to see who is better.
Cabeza de Cochino
An intricate dance through the mixing of the ribbons strung to a tall pole.
Almud
Dancing in a small wood square that looks like a stepstool box. ‘Almud’ is the word for what the people of the Yucatán used as a way to measure weight of the grains such as beans, corn, and flour before the weighing scale was invented.
Angaripola
The opening Jarana for La Vaqueria
El Torito
Showing how a bullfight is taking place. The woman is the bull and the man is the bullfighter, or in Spanish el torero.
Ferrocaril
Where the men and women place a tray with drinks on top of their head to see who is better.
Cabeza de Cochino
An intricate dance through the mixing of the ribbons strung to a tall pole.
Almud
Dancing in a small wood square that looks like a stepstool box. ‘Almud’ is the word for what the people of the Yucatán used as a way to measure weight of the grains such as beans, corn, and flour before the weighing scale was invented.
If you’re traveling to Mérida and want to experience this dancing culture for yourself, here is where you can find the fun:
MONDAYS: La Vaquería in the Palacio Municipal
TUESDAYS: Remembranzas Musicales in Parque de Santiago
THURSDAYS: La Serenata in Parque Santa Lucia
SATURDAYS: Noche Mexican in Remate
SUNDAYS: A popular contemporary show, with clowns or young singers, and schoolgirls dancing to modern songs in Parque las Américas
