Mariachi Group Tucson Arizona Fiesta
What does a fiesta mean to a mariachi group or mariachi groups in general? It means a saint’s day, birthday, wedding, baptismal, anniversary or even a funeral memorial.
It is an all-purpose word that mean to us (us = mariachi band, mariachi group or mariachi groups) a party with great mariachi and great Mexican food. Also a fiesta is where the mariachis get invited to eat too!
But to an Anglo crowd fiesta means a party: An elaborate party (often outdoors) Audio English.org…but not necessarily the usual mariachi group definitions above. Fiesta under this definition could include a job promotion?
A great Mexican fiesta should include Mexican food, margaritas and mariachis. We, mariachis, welcome your invitation. Mariachi music enlivens the crowd and adds joy and mirth to your party.
So how does Mariachi Alegre play a fiesta?
First we go in playing Las Manañitas. This song is played universally for all functions including funereal memorials.
Las Manañitas: from About.com
Origin of ” Las Manañitas “
“Las Mananitas” is a Mexican song, a traditional Mexican song, equivalent with “Happy Birthday.” It is very popular because it is sung on everybody’s birthday and also in almost every Mexican party. It’s history goes back to 1896, when it was first dated as originating from a town named Zacatecas, it’s writer or composer beeing unknown. At the beginning of the 18th century, mariachi – which is a group of musicians just with violins and another two instruments, very Mexican instruments like Viguela and Guitaron – started to sing this song during people’s birthdays.
Meaning of ” Las Manañitas “
Since then, it’s a tradition that mariachi come to your home and sing this song for you on your birthday. Also, it’s very often sung in the early morning when we try to wake a loved one. There are a lot versions of “Las Mananitas,” but just two verses are sung at most Mexican parties. It means the joy, well…how can we say? It means that people love you when they remember the day of your birthday. All people are very excited about receiving this serenade on the morning of their birthday.
Las Manañitas, as stated, is usually played at serenades for loved ones in the early morning hours. Las Manañitas literal transition is “The Morning Song”. This song is the equivalent of the American Happy Birthday song (origin The melody of “Happy Birthday to You” comes from the song “Good Morning to All“, which was written and composed byAmerican siblings Patty Hill and Mildred J. Hill in 1893.[ Wili[pedia)
Las Manañitas is all purpose song as stated but can be played for all occasions: Birthday, baptismals, anniversaries, weddings, saint day and memorial funerals. Yes even memorials. The song is a commemoration of one’s life lived. The joys and sorrows of living are shared with your guests. The mariachi gives voice to these joys and sorrow as expressed in the song.
See Las Manañitas below: From http://www.cancionfeliz.com/mananitas.php
Las Manañitas
Note: In memorials we ask first what type of mood the host wants to convey to their guests.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Estas son las mañanitas que cantaba el rey David Hoy por ser día de tu santo te las cantamos aquí. Despierta mi bien despierta Mira que ya amaneció Ya los pajaritos cantan La luna ya se metió. | These are the dawns that King David sang about We are singing here because today is your saint’s day (or birthday or anniversary) Wake up my dear, Wake up and see what dawn has brought The birds are singing and the moon has set. |
| 1. ¡Qué linda está la mañana en que vengo a saludarte Venimos todos con gusto y placer a felicitarte! El día en que tú naciste, nacieron todas las flores Y En la pila del bautismo cantaron los ruiseñores. Ya viene amaneciendo ya la luz del dia nos dió. Levantarte de la mañana, mira que ya amaneció. | How beautiful is this morning on which I come to greet you We come with happiness and pleasure to congratulate you! All flowers were born on the day that you were bornOn the baptismal pillar sing the nightingalesDawn is arriving and the light of day is upon us. Rise up this morning and see what dawn has brought. |
| 1. Quisiera ser solecito para entrar por tu ventana Y darte los buenos dias acostadita en cama Volaron 4 palomas (mariachis?) por toditas las ciudades Hoy por ser dia de tu santo Te deseamos felicidades Ya viene amaneciendo ya la luz del dia nos dió. Levantarte de la mañana, mira que ya amaneció. | I would like to be alone to enter through your window And greet you Good Morning lying in the bed.Four doves flew to all the cities because today is your saint’s day (or birthday or anniversary, etc.), we wish you happinessDawn is arriving and the light of day is upon us. Rise up this morning and see what dawn has brought |
| 2. Alternativo Quisiera ser un san juan quisiera ser un san pedro para venirte a saludar con la musica del cielo De las estrellas del cielo tengo que bajarte dos, Una es para saludarte, otra es para decirte adiós. | I would like to be Saint John I would like to be Saint Paul To come to greet you With the music of Heaven From the stars in the heavens I had to take two down One to greet you Another to bid farewell |
| Con jasmines y floresEsta dia voy a adornarHoy por ser dia de tu santoTe venimos a cantar | With jasmine and flowers. Today I come to grace (adorn) you. And today because it is your birthday (saint day) We come to sing |
Returning to fiesta:
After playing Las Manañitas to (a) selected person(s). we play “En Tu Dia” which further commemorates the function (usually birthday) by telling in song verse that we come to spread joy and happiness with everyone especially the person whose holiday we are celebrating.
After these two songs…
MARIACHI ALEGRE (GBEJARANO)
From Audio-English.org
The noun FIESTA has 1 sense:
1. an elaborate party (often outdoors)
Familiarity information: FIESTA used as a noun is very rare.
Dictionary entry details
• FIESTA (noun)
Meaning:
An elaborate party (often outdoors)
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural events
Synonyms:
Hypernyms (“fiesta” is a kind of…):
party (an occasion on which people can assemble for social interaction and entertainment)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of “fiesta”):
potlatch (a ceremonial feast held by some Indians of the northwestern coast of North America (as in celebrating a marriage or a new accession) in which the host gives gifts to tribesmen and others to display his superior wealth (sometimes, formerly, to his own impoverishment))
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Full Definition of FIESTA
: a public celebration in Spain and Latin America with parades and dances in honor of a saint
: festival; specifically : a saint’s day celebrated in Spain and Latin America with processions and dances
fiestas throughout the summer>