Mariachi Kid

ltyeyTheMariachi KidMexicoWritten by Janine ScottPhotography by Jennifer and Brian Lupton

TheMariachi KidWritten by Janine ScottPhotography by Jennifer and Brian Lupton

MexicoContentsThe Mariachi Kid 4Explore Mexico 14Historic Mexico 16Maureen has a great dealof determination for a youngsinger. She belongs to amariachi band. Like manychildren in the United States,Maureen keeps the cultureand traditions of her family’sMexican past alive throughher music.Family Time 18Fiesta Fun 20Mexican Art 22What Do You Think? 24Index 24determination a drive to succeed

The Mariachi KidThe Mariachi Kid’s real name is Maureen Sanchez.Maureen has a special talent. She is a very goodsinger. She has been singing mariachi music sinceshe was five years old. Maureen now sings mariachisongs in a mariachi band. She is a little singerwith a very big voice!Did You Know?In the old days, mariachis werestreet singers who strolledfrom village to village. Somepeople believe that the wordmariachi first came from theFrench word mariage, whichmeans “marriage.” This isbecause mariachi bands werehired to play at the weddings ofFrench soldiers. Other peoplebelieve that the word comesfrom the name of the woodused to make dance platforms.Some people believe it comesfrom the name María.Maureen’s dog is named Archie, which is short for mariachi.Everyone hasa special talent.What are you goodat doing?mariachi4a Mexican folk band and the music they play5

Maureen dresses up before she sings. Sometimesshe wears a traditional costume. It has a jacketand a long skirt with gold decorations. Sometimesshe wears a beautiful purple dress. It has Mexicandancers and guitars on it.The costumes of mariachimusicians are like thecostumes of charros, whoare Mexican horsemen.The men in mariachibands sometimes wearcowboy boots and hatswith wide brims.tradition an old and special way of doing things6 7

Maureen performs at mariachi festivals. Bands fromall over Mexico and the United States come to playand sing in the festivals. It is a good way to keepMexican culture and traditions alive.Maureen’s grandmotheris an excellent singer.She has won a singingcontest on television.She inspired Maureento sing. Who in yourfamily inspires you?Maureen is famous in the mariachi world. She isone of the youngest singers. Maureen has wonmany awards. Sometimes she even wins whenshe competes against adult singers!8 9

Maureen goes to singing school for voice lessons.She went to her first singing school when shewas five years old. Her teacher is a famous mariachisinger. Maureen spends many hours a day practicing.She is determined to be one of the best singersin the mariachi world.Make Mexican MaracasMaracas aretraditionalrhythminstruments.1. Paint twoplastic bottleswith bright colorsand designs.Allow them to dry.2. Put a little dryrice in the bottlesand then put onthe caps.Maureen’s singing teacheris Heriberto Molina. He hasperformed mariachi songsfor many important people,including the King and Queenof Spain and the Queenof England.3. Play some music andshake your maracasto the rhythm ofthe music!10 11

Maureen has recorded two CDs. King Clave,a famous musician from Argentina, wrotethe songs for Maureen’s first CD.When Maureen records, she sings the songsover and over until she gets them right. It cantake up to two hours to record just one song!12 13Maureen made her first CDwhen she was eight years old.

RioExplore MexicoMexico is the northernmost country in LatinAmerica. It borders the United States. The borderthat separates Mexico and the United States ismostly formed by a large river, the Rio Grande.The south of Mexico borders Belize andGuatemala.The capital of Mexico is Mexico City. It is oneof the largest cities in the world. The peopleof Mexico speak mainly Spanish.Mexico City has beenthe capital of Mexicosince 1821, when Mexicobecame independentfrom Spain.On the Go!What day is a special familyday in Mexico?Go to Page 18What special festival is heldon December 23 in Oaxaca?Go to Page 21What metal is mined inMexico and used to makejewelry?Go to Page 23U.S.A.GrandeMEXICOMexico CityGulf of MexicoPACIFICBELIZE14OCEANGUATEMALA15

Historic MexicoMexico is filled with history. Mexicans are proudof their cultural past. Many museums, churches,and ruins can be found in and around cities andtowns. Just a short drive from Mexico City lie ruinsof the great Aztec civilization. Thousands of yearsago, the Aztecs built pyramids, which people stillclimb today.This Aztec ruin is called the Pyramid of the Moon.Many tourists come each year to explore it.ruinsthe remains of things built long ago16 17

Family TimeFamily life is important in Mexico. Sunday isa special family day. Families often go for lunchat a restaurant where they can hear a mariachiband play.Another important tradition is the afternoonrest, or siesta. This break is during the hottestpart of the day. It can be a good time forthe whole family to rest after sharing a middaymeal together.Have You Tried These?These dishes are served in Mexicanrestaurants all around the world.They are made from tortillas.A tortilla is a flat bread madeof maize or flour.BurritosTacosTostadasPiñatas are often popular at family birthday parties.The children are blindfolded and try to breakopen the piñata, which is filled with treats.18maizecorn that is light yellowor slightly orange19

Mexican ArtMexicans have made beautiful handicrafts forhundreds of years. Today, Mexico is famous forits brightly colored pottery, painting, mosaics, andother crafts. It has produced many famous artists,such as Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.The sun and the moonare often featuredin Mexican pottery.A Diego Rivera muralSome areas of Mexico are well knownfor the handicrafts that they produce.In some areas, people specialize inweaving. In other areas, they makepottery. Silver is mined in Mexico andis used to produce jewelry and otherbeautiful items.What traditionalart is popularin your countryor state?mosaic a pattern or a picture made from pieces22of glass, tile, or stone23

What Do You Think?1 Siesta is a custom in much ofMexico. What other customsdoes Mexico have?2 What skills would someoneneed to be a mariachi singer?Why is determinationimportant if you wantto become goodat something?Indexart 22–23cities 14–15, 16clothes 6, 20families 18fiestas 20–21food 18–19history 16maracas 11music 4–6, 8–13, 18, 2124