Rebozo
Encyclopedia
A rebozo is a woman's garment used in Mexico
. Rectangular in shape, rebozos vary in size from 1.5 to upwards of three metres, and can be made of cotton, wool, silk, or articela. They can be worn as scarves or shawls, and women often use them to carry children and take products to the market. It is a garment accessory women wear over their shoulders (over the dress or blouse). They range in value from very inexpensive to hundreds of dollars.
Rebozos are a product of the intermingling of the cultures colonized
by Spain
. It is unknown whether the Indigenous people of Mexico used them before the arrival of the Spanish, but the word does not appear in the Spanish language until the year 1562.
They are made all over Mexico, but the rebozos of Michoacán
, Oaxaca
, Querétaro
, and San Luis Potosí
are particularly prized. San Luis Potosí is the home of the Otomí
, a people famous for their weaving, and it is in Santa María del Río, San Luis Potosí
that the Rebozo Caramelo, the most expensive rebozo, is made. Chalinas are flat rebozos with no design, and are only one color. Often, rebozos with red, green, and white stripes are worn for Fiestas Patrias.
The photographs of Agustín Casasola
depict soldaderas, the female soldiers of the
Mexican Revolution
, wearing rebozos de bolita. As a distinctly Mexican garment, the rebozo has been celebrated in the arts. The rebozo has been the subject of song and poem, and Frida Kahlo
frequently painted portraits of herself wearing rebozos. The rebozo has also been used in the Chicano
arts: for example, it serves as the central metaphor of Sandra Cisneros
's bildungsroman
Caramelo
. And due to its folkloric nature, the rebozo is often used as part of the costume for performing Mexican folk dance
s.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Rectangular in shape, rebozos vary in size from 1.5 to upwards of three metres, and can be made of cotton, wool, silk, or articela. They can be worn as scarves or shawls, and women often use them to carry children and take products to the market. It is a garment accessory women wear over their shoulders (over the dress or blouse). They range in value from very inexpensive to hundreds of dollars.
Rebozos are a product of the intermingling of the cultures colonized
Colonialism
Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
by Spain
Spanish Empire
The Spanish Empire comprised territories and colonies administered directly by Spain in Europe, in America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. It originated during the Age of Exploration and was therefore one of the first global empires. At the time of Habsburgs, Spain reached the peak of its world power....
. It is unknown whether the Indigenous people of Mexico used them before the arrival of the Spanish, but the word does not appear in the Spanish language until the year 1562.
They are made all over Mexico, but the rebozos of Michoacán
Michoacán
Michoacán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Michoacán de Ocampo is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 113 municipalities and its capital city is Morelia...
, Oaxaca
Oaxaca
Oaxaca , , officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Oaxaca is one of the 31 states which, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided into 571 municipalities; of which 418 are governed by the system of customs and traditions...
, Querétaro
Querétaro
Querétaro officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Querétaro de Arteaga is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 18 municipalities and its capital city is Santiago de Querétaro....
, and San Luis Potosí
San Luis Potosí
San Luis Potosí officially Estado Libre y Soberano de San Luis Potosí is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 58 municipalities and its capital city is San Luis Potosí....
are particularly prized. San Luis Potosí is the home of the Otomí
Otomi people
The Otomi people . Smaller Otomi populations exist in the states of Puebla, Mexico, Tlaxcala, Michoacán and Guanajuato. The Otomi language belonging to the Oto-Pamean branch of the Oto-Manguean language family is spoken in many different varieties some of which are not mutually intelligible.One of...
, a people famous for their weaving, and it is in Santa María del Río, San Luis Potosí
Santa Maria del Rio, San Luis Potosi
Santa Maria del Rio is one of the 58 municipalities that make up the Mexican state of San Luis Potosi. The municipality is located in the southern part of the state, approximately 48 kilometers east of the city of San Luis Potosi. Santa Maria del Rio has a land area of 1,655 square kilometers, with...
that the Rebozo Caramelo, the most expensive rebozo, is made. Chalinas are flat rebozos with no design, and are only one color. Often, rebozos with red, green, and white stripes are worn for Fiestas Patrias.
The photographs of Agustín Casasola
Agustín Casasola
Agustín Víctor Casasola , others cite: was a Mexican photographer and partial founder of the Mexican Association of Press Photographers....
depict soldaderas, the female soldiers of the
Mexican Revolution
Mexican Revolution
The Mexican Revolution was a major armed struggle that started in 1910, with an uprising led by Francisco I. Madero against longtime autocrat Porfirio Díaz. The Revolution was characterized by several socialist, liberal, anarchist, populist, and agrarianist movements. Over time the Revolution...
, wearing rebozos de bolita. As a distinctly Mexican garment, the rebozo has been celebrated in the arts. The rebozo has been the subject of song and poem, and Frida Kahlo
Frida Kahlo
Frida Kahlo de Rivera was a Mexican painter, born in Coyoacán, and perhaps best known for her self-portraits....
frequently painted portraits of herself wearing rebozos. The rebozo has also been used in the Chicano
Chicano
The terms "Chicano" and "Chicana" are used in reference to U.S. citizens of Mexican descent. However, those terms have a wide range of meanings in various parts of the world. The term began to be widely used during the Chicano Movement, mainly among Mexican Americans, especially in the movement's...
arts: for example, it serves as the central metaphor of Sandra Cisneros
Sandra Cisneros
Sandra Cisneros is an American writer best known for her acclaimed first novel The House on Mango Street and her subsequent short story collection Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories...
's bildungsroman
Bildungsroman
In literary criticism, bildungsroman or coming-of-age story is a literary genre which focuses on the psychological and moral growth of the protagonist from youth to adulthood , and in which character change is thus extremely important...
Caramelo
Caramelo
Caramelo is a 2002 novel by American author Sandra Cisneros. It was inspired by her Mexican heritage and childhood in the barrio of Chicago, Illinois. The main character, Lala, is the only girl in a family of seven children and her family often travels between Chicago and Mexico City...
. And due to its folkloric nature, the rebozo is often used as part of the costume for performing Mexican folk dance
Folk dance
The term folk dance describes dances that share some or all of the following attributes:*They are dances performed at social functions by people with little or no professional training, often to traditional music or music based on traditional music....
s.
External links
- Hand-colored photographs by Luis Márquez (photographer) of people wearing or using rebozos in the 1930's at the University of Houston Digital Library. Photo 1Photo 2Photo 3. Photo 4