Chicano Folklore

1. Chicano Folklore
(Bixler-Marquez 445-458)
Erick Pulido and Sonia Tinoco

2. Defining Chicano Folklore
● Oral traditions of a people that have handed down from generation to
generation.
● Chicano folklore- folklore belonging to the group of people of Mexican-American
descent residing in the United States.
○ It will continue to prosper because it helps us understand and keep the Chicano character or
experience.

3. Prose Narrative
● Prose narratives are myths proved to have an importance in the Chicano quest
for self definition and identity for the past 20 years.
● The phrase, “Lo indio, lo azteca, lo maya” no longer has a negative
connotation, it is now something to be proud of.
● 2 versions of stories La Llorona
● Casos- explain the richness and complexity of Mexican/Chicano culture.
● Much of the humor comes from the confrontation between Mexican, Catholic
Spanish speakers and Anglo, Protestants, English speakers
● These jokes told by immigrants themselves to other immigrants eases the
culture shock, big factor is the biliguousilms.

4. Folk Songs
● The two most researched genres are corridos and décimas.
● Corridos - most important means of self expression for the Chicano community
● Américo Parés’ theory - after the Mexican-American war of 1848,
Mexican-Americans were denied access to the printing press, so corridos
allowed them a way of self expression and historical spreading of information.
● Types of corridos include corridos whose main subject is horses, exploits drugs
and tequila smuggles, love, those extolling life and death of political figures, and
those dealing with protest.
● Décimas- not as popular as the corridos but originated in the 18th and 19th
century in both Mexico and the Southwest.

5. Folk Speech
● Chicano Spanish has recently been the focus of intense study, specifically
linguistics and those interested in bilingual education.
● Code Switch- switching in the middle of a phrase, sentence, or paragraph from
English to Spanish or vice versa.
● Calo - the jargon of the underworld or the pachuco, has only slightly been
studied.
● George C. Baker Tucson Arizona (1975)
● Speech of pachucos from Tuscon Arizona.
○ Carnal, jaina, chante, chale, and simon

6. Proverbs and Proverbial Expressions
● Proverb- short succinct expression that encompasses within its world a
philosophical wisdom. (dichos)
● Should take these “dichos” with caution when analyzing the character of people.
● Shirley Arora found that many times, proverbs are use as table manners for
children.
● Understanding why, as conquered people, after one hundred years of political
and cultural domination, we cling to one of our cultural manifestations-the
Spanish language.

7. Folk Theater
● Traces back to the roots of the Spanish conquistadores and their religious plays.
● Took place in the church atrium and were presented on specific holy days such
as Christmas or Easter Sunday.

8. Children’s Songs and Games
● Those of us who grew up in a Spanish-speaking environment, may remember
some of these songs.
○ “Duermete mi nino” our version
○ “Tortillas”
○ “Naranja dulce”
○ “La muneca”
○ “Sana sana colita de rana”
● Close analysis of children's play may have some dark sides.
● Children express their anxiety and fear through play.
○ Ex: The game of tag; “la rona” also known as “la mancha” (tag) or “la correa”

9. Riddles
● Riddle- questions that suggest an object foreign to the answer on and confuses
the hearer by giving solutions that is obviously correct and entirely unexpected.
● Necessary of 2 parts:
○ 1. The riddle image
○ 2. The riddle answer
● La adivinanza-an integral part of the expressive culture of the Chicano.
● Serve as models of synthetic and analytic thinking.
● McDowell perceived 2 sets of riddles:
○ 1. Those learned at school from Anglo children and from media
○ Those more traditional ones learned at home from parents, relatives, and/or peers.

10. Folk Belief and Folk Medicine
● One of the most controversial areas of scholarship in Chicano folklore.
● Can be the reason why many Chicanos refuse to utilize and take advantage of
medical services. Institutionalized racism
● Examples of Folk beliefs:
○ A manda (promise)
○ Brujas
○ Curaderas
○ The devil
○ Belief in objects
○ La llorona

11. Chicano Folklore Jeopardy
https://www.superteachertools.us/jeopardyx/jeopardy-review-game.php?gamefile
=2101345