If You’re From Brownsville, TX, You Know You Love Charro Days | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
popular

If You’re From Brownsville, TX, You Know You Love Charro Days

One of the most unique Mexican culture experience.

4516
If You’re From Brownsville, TX, You Know You Love Charro Days
Azalea Andrade

Growing up in Brownsville, TX, I always wondered what was out there. We are all the way down in the tip of Texas, but this state is so huge. Although sometimes I couldn’t wait to get away, I do miss certain parts of it. We have this city wide holiday called Charro Days.

If you grew up in Brownsville, you know Charro Days is a huge deal. It is a holiday that everyone looks forward to because of its meaning, and well, of course, the food. It happens once a year the last weekend of February. There is so much history behind the holiday that sometimes goes unnoticed due to the fact that lots of the attention is paid to other parts of the celebration.

Charro Days started in 1937 in hopes to lighten up the town during the Great Depression. The goal is to unite borders with Brownsville’s Mexican sister town, Matamoros. The rich culture that Brownsville had was one of a kind. There was so much to celebrate, so that’s what the people did.

Like I said, this event is city wide and is taking very seriously that the whole district takes From elote en vaso (corn in a cup) to espiropapas (fried potatoes on a stick), there are so many varieties of food that are served. There are festivals, parades, music, dances and so much more. The traditional “Grito” is a huge part of this celebration because it really represents the spirit of Mexicans and contributes highly to the Charro Days celebration.

During this time, Matamoros opens its border as part of signifying unity. Friends and families can walk across allowing them to share these festivities together. There is an event specifically for this called “Hands Across The Border” that signifies the mutual friendship between the two cities.

Who can forget about sombrero fest? This is a huge festival that takes place downtown where there is live music, contests, food, and lots of dancing. I think this is something a lot of the people look forward to because of the great Mexicans that they bring to play. It just really represents what our culture is all about.

Last, but not least, is what we call Mr. Amigo. The Mr. Amigo Association picks a Mexican personality that has had great impact in the US as in México. They range from movie stars to telenovela starts to singers. Mr. Amigo gives an appearance as the “Hands Across The Border” as well as in the parade that happens on Saturday.

There is so much rich culture to indulge in these three days. As a kid you probably came out dancing in the parade or with your school’s band. Whether you were a participant or in the audience, the enjoyment was one of a kind. This is such a treasure to the city of Brownsville, and I hope that one day people from all over have the opportunity to experience a Charro Days.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

11 Struggles of Packing for College

It would be so much easier to just pay someone to do it for you

55
a room with boxes and a window

1. Figuring out when to start

Timing is key, you don’t want to start too early or too late.

Keep Reading...Show less
parks and rec
Liz Keysmash

Amidst my hectic college career, I always find time for one thing, even on the busiest weeks: Parks and Recreation. This show has made me laugh and has made me cry, but most of all I have related to this show more than I would like to admit.

Here are some "Parks and Rec" moments that relate to life struggles that just about everyone faces.

Keep Reading...Show less
April Ludgate
Facebook

April Ludgate from Parks and Recreation is notorious for her "I don't care" attitude. She speaks her mind without caring what anyone thinks of her. Fans love her because she isn't afraid to be herself. April can seem cold and negative, but she's really just fearless and strong-minded. And despite her sometimes harsh words, April truly cares about the people she's closest to. These are all reasons she is the epitome of a college student. April complains whenever she has to do any kind of work, but ends up doing the work anyway. April Ludgate is the ultimate college student spirit animal.

Keep Reading...Show less
girl running late to class
StableDiffusion

Why are girls consistently so late? They just can't help it. Our internal clocks are always just a few minutes behind, or maybe more for some of us. Arriving on time to class is a challenge every morning. If you're continually finding yourself being the last one to walk into class, here are 13 possible reasons why you didn't quite make it on time.

Keep Reading...Show less
coffee

It's finally flu season! It's around that time in the school year where everyone on campus is getting sick, especially if they live in the dorms. It's hard to take care of yourself while being sick at school, but here are some coping mechanisms to get you on the path to feeling better!

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments