Category: Saintly Stories Nuns Never Told Me

Postcard from Oaxaca, Mexico: Bite the baby; throw the party

postcardsfromsanantonioLeave a comment

three-kingsThe pair of skinny Santas on stilts (I know; I don’t comprehend their significance either.) who roamed the plaza in front of the Cathedral around Christmas have been replaced by itinerant trios of kings soliciting tips for family photos. This troupe was the only one around bearing gifts for Baby Jesus accompanied by the beasts (well, sort of) originally transporting them to the manger in Bethlehem on January 6.

Epiphany was always a holy day of obligation when I was growing up, another command day at church which fell within several weeks of a multitude of visits to church. But we weren’t rewarded with cake.

In Mexico, Saint Nicholas traditionally does not arrive bearing gifts for children on Jesus’ birthday. Children have to wait until the day Jesus received his presents – gold, frankincense and myrrh – delivered in tribute to him by the three kings. So, on January 6 in Mexico, Mass is followed by presents and a party with cake – rosca de reyes.

Shannon Costello's rosca de reyes
Shannon Costello’s rosca de reyes

The staff at the Library of the University of Texas at San Antonio has translated, along with helpful baking tips, a traditional kings’ cake recipe from Panes de Levadura by Josefina Velazquez de Leon, part of the collection of Mexican cookbooks, La Cocina Historica.

Not everyone in Oaxaca appears to make these from scratch. Boxes of the rings of cake have been flying off shelves in bakeries all over town.

Hidden inside each is a little figure representing Baby Jesus. If the piece you receive contains the nino, your family has to host the next fiesta specifically for Jesus on the calendar, Candelaria on February 2, or prepare the homemade tamales for the party (Whoa! I prefer the no-strings-attached prize in Cracker Jacks).

Candelaria is when all the Baby Jesuses housed by the faithful in their homes receive new clothes. Then, dressed in appropriate finery, all the little statues are carried to church to be blessed.

Hmmm. What should Jesus wear? Is Oaxaca ready to follow the fashion trends being set in San Cristobal de las Casas? Happy Kings’ Day.

And, if the kings have any gifts in mind for me, of the ancient trio, I’d prefer the gold.

Biannual round-up of what postcards you read most

postcardsfromsanantonioLeave a comment

cathedral6Every six months it’s good for me to check back to see what type of post you have been reading during the past 12 months. As usual, you are all over the map, leaving me free to continue selecting topics arbitrarily.

It makes sense that blog-readers love libraries; the most read post expressed concerns affecting funding of the San Antonio Public Library. The mystery surrounding the murder of Helen Madarasz in Brackenridge Park rose to second in popularity, and there are those who pine to hear the San Antonio Song. A few new posts pushed aside several long-time favorites, and, for some reason, you dug deep in the archives to resurrect a couple that had not been read for quite a while.

The number in parentheses represents the rankings from six months ago:

  1. The danger of playing hardball with our Library: Bookworms tend to vote, 2014
  2. The Madarasz Murder Mystery: Might Helen Haunt Brackenridge Park?, 2012 (7)
  3. Please put this song on Tony’s pony and make it ride away, 2010 (5)
  4. The Tragic Rule of Maximilian and Carlota in Mexico, 2014 (10)
  5. Remembering everyday people: Our rural heritage merits attention, 2014
  6. Picturing the City’s Past Just Got Easier, 2014
  7. Seeing San Fernando Cathedral in a new light…, 2014
  8. Postcard from San Miguel de Allende: Sun rises again at La Aurora, 2014 (9)
  9. “Nuit of the Living Dead” (8), 2010
  10. How would you feel about the Alamo with a crewcut?, 2011
  11. That Crabby Old Colonel Cribby Condemned the River to Years of Lowlife, 2013
  12. Postcards from San Miguel de Allende: Redirecting Graffiti Artists, Part Four, 2014

Thanks for dropping by every once in a while and for giving me permission to keep rambling on about whatever I’m currently pondering.

And best wishes throughout the coming year.

Postcard from San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico: What should Jesus wear?

postcardsfromsanantonio5 Comments

Now, observe, my daughter, the contrast between the luxurious dress of many women, and the raiment and adornments of Jesus…. Tell me: what relation do their fine shoes bear to the spikes in Jesus’ Feet? The rings on their hands to the nails which perforated His? The fashionable coiffure to the Crown of Thorns? The painted face to That covered with bruises? Shoulders exposed by the low-cut gown to His, all striped with Blood? …At the hour of such a women’s death, I think Jesus will be heard saying: “Cujus est imago haec… of whom is she the image?” And the reply will be: “Demonii... of the Devil!” Then He will say: “Let her who has followed the Devil’s fashions be handed over to him; and to God, those who have imitated the modesty of Jesus and Mary.”

Saint Anthony Mary Claret, 1800s

Saint Anthony Mary Claret boldly put words into the mouth of Jesus by issuing this condemnation of flashy fashionistas in the 1800s. As their patron saint, weavers and textile merchants must have been grateful for his proclamations promoting the excessive usage of yards upon yards of fabric.

Marylike standards spelled out by the Vatican under Pope Pius XI, who reigned from 1922 to 1932, demanded “modesty without compromise.” Sleeves to the wrist, and dresses concealing, not revealing, “the figure of the wearer” covering women from not more than two-fingers-width under the neck to the ankles. And for decorations? Fancy “fabrics such as laces, nets, organdy may be moderately used as trimmings only.”

But what about fashion trends for saints? Who decides what is appropriate for statues of saints to wear? I couldn’t find any rules online establishing guidelines for saintly attire.

All I know is the faithful in San Cristobal de las Casas have upended dull traditions for dressing saints. Colorful garb, preferably with sparkles, is definitely in. And toddler Jesus looks adorable standing at his mother’s feet in that shimmering pink gown trimmed in fur.

Unfortunately, signs in many churches, as in upscale fashion houses, forbid you from taking photos of their saints’ updated wardrobes.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Now, I’m not accusing anyone of dressing Mary or any other saints in sexually suggestive clothing.

Well, except maybe Jesus. The thought must be that Jesus’ loincloth was looking rather tired and dingy. Surely a shiny green number with a huge, modesty flower in front would lighten his burden? Or a cluster of flowers on that orange number with the contrasting silver fringe?

And, while the clothiers were at it, the Holy Ghost symbol needed some glitter. And the dark somber mood in a church would certainly benefit from more upbeat lighting. Neon to frame the altar honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Italy might think it is an international fashion capital, but the Vatican is light years behind the trends designers in San Cristobal de las Casas are setting.