A Day in Old Mexico's Charreada: A Unique San Antonio Fiesta Event

Much of San Antonio Fiesta is about the celebration of history and culture of the people who make up San Antonio. Nowhere else is that more evident than at A Day In Old Mexico's Charreda. When you attend this event you'll step back in time several hundred years when Spain ruled Mexico.

Charreda is a celebration of the tradition of Charrería. Charrería is many things. It is both a festive event, which includes horse-riding competitions where the riders called charros wear traditional clothing. Charrería is also keeping traditions of music, horsemanship and culture alive for generations to come.

The events are organized according to a very precise set of rules and equipment set by the Mexican Federation of Charros. The competitions include roping, and riding events throughout the daylong activities. The activities originally started as a way for the wealthy landowners to train their horses and themselves for war.

The Asociación de Charros de San Antonio has been teaching and carrying on the tradition of Charrería over 50 years. The ten different events shown in the Charrería are based on the lives of people who lived on the haciendas or ranches in Old Mexico.

In San Antonio the event is held at Charro Ranch, 6126 Padre Drive. The Charreda starts with a beautiful display of music and pageantry as riders or charros and the adelitas (female riders) ride into the arena with their handsome horses and wearing the traditional clothing of the charros. The music of the mariachi band sets the mood as you slowly drift into an earlier time and different way of life.

The six events presented have their beginnings in the 1500's when the Spanish came to North America bringing horses, cattle and a different way of life. Horses were an important part of everyday life especially when raising cattle on the large haciendas (ranch estates).

Charrerías became a way of celebrating the skills of the charros. The charros would gather together at the various haciendas to challenge each other in roping, riding and other skills needed in everyday life. The Charrerías were not only a way of showing off skills, but sharing music, food and socializing.

Some people compare Charrerías to rodeos. Unlike rodeos the events of Charrería are judged not on time, but skill and execution of the events. The Charrería event winners do not receive money awards as in the rodeo events, but instead receive trophies. The difference can be the Charrería is considered an amateur event while rodeos have become professional sports events in the United States.

The tack or saddles worn by the horses is very elaborate and shows great craftsmanship. Each of the outfits worn by the participants is custom and totally amazing in the details.

Of the events of the Charrería the charros or male riders perform the majority of the events. There are roping and riding events. As you watch you will be amazed at the precision of the rider and horse working together. Here is a video from a Charrería in Milwaukee WI.

I especially enjoy the escaramuza. In this event a group of 8 women riding sidesaddle in very elaborate traditional dress perform a series of very intricate moves. They ride at high speeds in and out of specially choreographed patterns. It's amazing to watch but even more amazing when you consider they are riding sidesaddle and remain on their horse without falling off. Here's a video from another Charrería showing the escaramuza.

During the day's events you'll see dancing, listen to mariachi music, and have the opportunity to eat some fantastic traditional foods. It's an event like no other during San Antonio Fiesta. For more information go to http://www.sacharros.org or call 210.532.0693.