Added: 12/25/2005 |
Mexican hats are powerful devices of attractionImagine: it's hot, it's humid, and there are no trees for miles. Lucky for you you're carrying the handiest, most practical hat a hitchhiker can have: the Sombrero.
If you're looking for shade, you don't have to look very far wearing a sombrero. The shade stays with you. In fact, "sombrero" derives from the Spanish word "sombre", meaning shade. The word "sombrero" also directly translates to "hat", so it could be considered "the shady hat".
The first people to wear this useful device were apparently Mestizo workers in Mexico and the southern United States. Where they got the idea from remains a mystery, but it's highly possible they thought up the idea themselves.
Today, mexican hats are used as visuals for laziness, and as gag gifts at parties and celebrations. They are rarely taken seriously, and no longer carry the message of the true hard-working Mestizos. It's a shame, but all traditions follow this path to doom.
The more familiar of the two mexican hats forms is the "El Straw Cheapo". This sombrero can be purchased from such fine vintages as festivals and amusement parks. They try to bring out the true spirit of the sombrero: craftsmanship and hard work. They fail, though, because it just turns out that children (and college frat boys) will wear them to look goofy and mock other people.
The less familiar (but higher quality) sombrero is the "El Felt Richo". It's basically the same as the straw hat, but is made from felt and often has intricate designs sewn on to the top portion. It blends in to any surrounding, and often impresses the opposite sex.
Both these mexican hats can contain hanging stringed wooden knobs called "beads".These beads are used in the Mexican Hat Dance (see below) or in high movement activities (such as moshing to give the hat "life". It is rare to find a hat like this in the United States, but it's more available in the United Kingdom and Mexico.
In Mexico, a man uses his sombrero in the national dance called"Jarabe Tapatio", or the Mexican hat dance. The man tosses the hat on the floor in front of a woman, and, if she accepts him, she dances on its wide brim. There seems to be another form of this, where the hat owner will simply dance around his or her own hat.
Do you know, what are over-the-shoulder throws or hooded poncho? it looks like a rug with a hole cut in the middle for the head to fit through. You throw them over your shoulder, and this is considered proper sombrero attire. Often times, you'll see gauchos (Spanish cowboys) wearing such an item.
Also, if you just wear a sombrero during leisure time, you need sandals. To wear a sombrero without sandals is like eating a cheese pizza. You've got the pizza/hat, but it's just so damn plain. Besides, sandals are the most comfortable shoes you can buy. You can wiggle your toes, and you get a nice breeze!
Today you can order different kinds of mexican hats - mexican fiesta sombreros or mexican mariachi sombreros of assorted colors, as well as hooded ponco and other items in webstores like El Paso or La fuente, that specialize in folk art and fine art from Mexico, and have items from selected South and Central American countries.
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