Nuestros Ranchos Site

El dia de los muertos is celebrated differently, depending on the 
region of Mexico where you are at. My family, and the people I know 
in Zacoalco and Guadalajara, visit their dead loved ones on November 
2 each year. I remember that when I was a kid they took me several 
times to my grandfather's grave, and I remember that after a short 
prayer, my dad used to talk directly to my grandfather, staring at 
his grave, just like if he was having a conversation with him. I am 
used to this, but maybe someone may think it is weird. Anyways, 
after "talking" with my grandfather, we always cut some sugar cane 
from a plantation inside the cemetery and ate the sticks on the way 
back home.

I did not learn about altars for the dead until I came to the United 
States. In Jalisco, I never saw one, I guess it is not a tradition 
in the state. In California, I found out that those who put the 
altars were mostly people from Michoacan. Down there, they really 
have a big celebration for November 2

Hello,

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  File        : /Edward Serros (ed@...)/Descendants of Domingo Antonio Felgueres.doc 
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makas_nc 
 

Maria,
	I thought about this a lot this weekend.  I spent some time with my
folks this weekend.  My parents told me the same thing.  They pray the
rosary and have masses said for the dead.  They also reminded me that the
cemetery only holds their bodies, not their souls.  I guess this says it
all.  Wow!
Irma 

-----Original Message-----
From: readysetgo95814 [mailto:nena@...] 
Sent: Friday, July 01, 2005 11:25 PM
To: ranchos@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [ranchos] Re: Margarita's rememberance of Jerez, Zacatecas

Wow Irma, your Dad sounds just like mine.  The last time I went to San
Nicolas with him I asked about going to the cemetery where my grandfather is
buried and he had no interest in doing that. He asked me why I wanted to go.
I explained to him that I might find some valuable genealogical information
there.  He said there were not many headstones and there were mostly wooden
crosses on otherwise unmarked graves.  I still would like to go and see for
myself and plan do so sometime in

The following site might also be helpful with info on "La Catrina":
http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/history/posada,html

nc

First, let me apologize for possibly misspelling the name - I didn't 
bother to double check - and still haven't. "La Catrina" is the calaca 
figure created by the artist Jose Guadalupe Posada; a female often 
depicted with a wide-brimmed hat trimmed with feathers, and wearing a 
blouse and skirt. You might try to google Jose Guadalupe Posada. (Note: 
please excuse missing accents - haven't memorized the rules.)
The following is the site for the Mexican Cultural Institute:
http://www.embassyofmexico.org/mci/news.htm
Hasta la proxima,

Natalie Coleman, VA

Rancho:

Un rancho es un asentamiento o lugar donde se establece una persona o 
una comunidad.

Rancho: es un lugar fuera de una poblacion donde se albergan varias 
personas.

Rancho: Granja donde se crian caballos, vacas y otros animales 
domesticos.

Hay ranchos dedicados a la Agricultura y otros a la Ganaderia.

I hope this helps.

John Gonzalez
Wildomar, CA
S.W. Riverside County 

I don't remember "celebrating" this holiday as a youngster (in the 
40's & 50's), either. And it is only in the last 10-15 yrs that I 
have been exposed to this custom.
In the past two years the Smithsonian has had public programs for 
DDLM, (one day affairs) with music (strolling mariachi), dance, 
displays, and crafts.
The Mexican Cultural Institute (Washington, DC), in the building that 
formerly housed the Embassy of Mexico, have hosted a DDLM exhibit the 
past 3 yrs - with a magnificent altar in their blue & white tiled sun 
room, reception, and music. Last year there was even a woman dressed 
as La Catrina.
About 6 or 7 yrs ago I began putting up an altar in my yard (then 
moved it to the porch). I would put it up a day or two before 
Halloween - so trick or treaters would get an education when they 
came for their treats. I deviated from the standard of remembering 
and honor family members by remembering friends and family who had 
died in the previous 12 months - I would just

Hello,

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Regards,

makas_nc 
 

You're welcome, Maria..."puesto" is a way of saying "place".  I think it's sort of a neutral word.  At least that's how I understand it.

David Delgado  in Albany, CA

-----Original Message-----
From: readysetgo95814 
Sent: Jul 1, 2005 11:43 PM
To: ranchos@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [ranchos] Re: What is a Rancho???





David,



Thanks for the explanation.  I had been wondering about the 

term "Estancia".  I've also seen "Estanzuela" and I would guess it 

derived from the word "Estancia"?  The other term I've come across 

is "Puesto".  I picture that to be even smaller than a Rancho, but I 

am not sure.  I really haven't looked into it.  Does anyone know?



Maria Cortez

Elk Grove, CA



--- In ranchos@yahoogroups.com, "David P. Delgado"  

wrote:

> Joseph,

> 

> I think that the closest English equivalent of "rancho" is "town".  

The word town is as small and varied as the word "rancho". 

Hi Natalie,

I particularly enjoyed you posting because it reminded
me of my growing up years (I'm now 55).  Both my
parents were born in the U.S. Dad (3rd of 4
children)was born in New Mexico and his parents were
from Zacatecas (Sain Alto and Nochistlan~came to the
U.S. in 1910 and 1908 respectively).  My Mom (7th of 8
children) was born in California and her parents were
from Mocorito, Sinaloa, (they came to California in
1922).  My Dad's side of the family seemed to
incorporate less meat and more fruits and vegetables
in their "much more simple" meals, where my Mom's
family routinely celebrated with the type of food you
have mentioned.  My family and my Mom's siblings and
their families all lived within a 20 mile radius of my
grandparents home and each Sunday (and all holidays)
the entire family would get together for Sunday dinner
at my "Nana and Tata's" home.  This is where the food
you mentioned was commonly served (carnitas, frijoles
de olla, birria, cabeza, cesos, lengua

Dear Natalie,

What an interesting post. My Scots mother learned to make flour tortillas from her in-laws. My Tia Offie makes lengua, and it is very tasty. I haven't tasted her cooking in over 20 years because Tia Offie no longer cooks.



When my grandkids are over here, I feed them Peanut Butter and Jelly burritos. They're my favorite snack. Marge:)

On Jul 2, 2005, at 12:36 PM, Natalie wrote:

WOW! 300+ posts in June, and it is only July 2, and there are already

31 posts! Bring it on!

The food postings have been very interesting, and has caused me to

reflect on why I cook as I do. My father is my Zacatecas connection;

he came to the U.S. in 1916 as a 4 yr. old - his mother died when he

was 17 yrs. old, so I am sure she impacted his culinary tastes and

traditions. (My mother was born in Calif. - her mother was from

Mexico, but I don't know where; my mother was 5 yrs. old when her

mother died; I was almost 12 yrs. when my mother died. I remember her

as being a good

WOW! 300+ posts in June, and it is only July 2, and there are already 
31 posts! Bring it on!
The food postings have been very interesting, and has caused me to 
reflect on why I cook as I do. My father is my Zacatecas connection; 
he came to the U.S. in 1916 as a 4 yr. old - his mother died when he 
was 17 yrs. old, so I am sure she impacted his culinary tastes and 
traditions. (My mother was born in Calif. - her mother was from 
Mexico, but I don't know where; my mother was 5 yrs. old when her 
mother died; I was almost 12 yrs. when my mother died. I remember her 
as being a good cook - she made flour tortillas everyday, a skill I 
NEVER learned; I don't know her culinary traditions.) Back to my 
father: he loved carnitas, frijoles de olla, birria, cabeza, cesos, 
lengua, capirotada, to name a few. Growing up, these were foods eaten 
only on special occasions or holidays. When I first came to Virginia 
in the late 60's, the only tortillas available were frozen corn 
tortillas!! By

I had to chuckle, a little, when I was reading these two stories about your Dads'  and their disinterest in returning to a gravesite of loved ones.  As you all know, my mother was English/Irish.  My Mother also believed in not returning to where the dead were buried.  I once asked her why she would not visit any of our families gravesites to plant flowers, etc;...her response was, "Why?...they are not there; the next time I see them I will join them in Heaven!"  Needless to say, that was the END of that conversation!  It just goes to show, our ancestors of old had shared some very common beliefs, no matter what continent they were born!  haha!

Carol Lester

-----Original Message-----
From: readysetgo95814 
Sent: Jul 2, 2005 2:24 AM
To: ranchos@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [ranchos] Re: Margarita's rememberance of Jerez, Zacatecas

Wow Irma, your Dad sounds just like mine.  The last time I went to 
San Nicolas with him I asked about going to the cemetery where my 
grandfather is

David,

Thanks for the explanation.  I had been wondering about the 
term "Estancia".  I've also seen "Estanzuela" and I would guess it 
derived from the word "Estancia"?  The other term I've come across 
is "Puesto".  I picture that to be even smaller than a Rancho, but I 
am not sure.  I really haven't looked into it.  Does anyone know?

Maria Cortez
Elk Grove, CA

--- In ranchos@yahoogroups.com, "David P. Delgado"  
wrote:
> Joseph,
> 
> I think that the closest English equivalent of "rancho" is "town".  
The word town is as small and varied as the word "rancho".  A town 
can be anything from a single dwelling to a formally organized group 
of homes and families with formal organization.  I think it's 
important to keep in mind that some words in use today are holdovers 
from long ago.  For example, "villa" meant a community with at least 
25 white european families as permanent residents.  Permission had to 
petitioned from the Spanish Crown to be granted such

Wow Irma, your Dad sounds just like mine.  The last time I went to 
San Nicolas with him I asked about going to the cemetery where my 
grandfather is buried and he had no interest in doing that. He asked 
me why I wanted to go.  I explained to him that I might find some 
valuable genealogical information there.  He said there were not many 
headstones and there were mostly wooden crosses on otherwise unmarked 
graves.  I still would like to go and see for myself and plan do so 
sometime in the future.

I also asked him about dia de los Muertos and why we were never told 
about or practiced the custom. He replied that he never did either. 
When I asked him what my grandparents did to honor the dead he told 
me that they prayed the Rosary.  Now that I am researching our 
genealogy and have found that for the last 300 to 500 years our 
ancestors were Catholic I understand the reason.

Maria

--- In ranchos@yahoogroups.com, Irma GomezLucero  
wrote:
> I envy you Linda.

My father used to refer to Jerez as "mi Pueblo".  Was that correct for his time (1913)?

 

The only other word he would use was "la ciudad de" when he spoke of the larger cities, especially when the city had the same name as the state.

 

Emilie Garcia

Port Orchard, WA

---

Get more from the Web. FREE

Many thanks joseph...

Carol Lester

-----Original Message-----
From: Joseph Puentes 
Sent: Jul 1, 2005 4:23 PM
To: ranchos@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [ranchos] Alvarez, Campos de Momax, Zacatecas


its a list of contact information for the various churches in Zacatecas. 
More of the central churches in the various areas. Look at the message 
from Alicia for more info related to this. Hmmm, I didn't explain that 
very well. . .would anyone care to fill in or correct my fumbling effort?

joseph

Carol Lester wrote:

>Hello Joseph:
>
>I was wondering if you have a copy of the Momax, Zacatecas or Los Velas Momax, Zacatecas areas of the mexican phone book?  If so, is there any 'Campos' or 'Alvarez' names you could send me?  I haven't made much progress with any new information for my mexican families.  Especially Alvarez!  I am beginning to think my father's father was a 'myth'!!  I went to the obispadozacatecas.org.mx/M7.htm site, but I don't understand what it is.  Can you

Joseph,

I think that the closest English equivalent of "rancho" is "town".  The word town is as small and varied as the word "rancho".  A town can be anything from a single dwelling to a formally organized group of homes and families with formal organization.  I think it's important to keep in mind that some words in use today are holdovers from long ago.  For example, "villa" meant a community with at least 25 white european families as permanent residents.  Permission had to petitioned from the Spanish Crown to be granted such status.  A "pueblo" was a community in which biracial, white, and indigenous people lived.  A "ranchería" was a community of indigenous people only (usually "wild", i.e. unbaptized).  The other term I have seen while reading old documents is "estancia".  This last word refers to a bivouac area.  These terms and their meanings disappeared along with the Spanish after Mexico separated from Spain.  I think that the word "pueblo" has remained in the voaculary of

Yes, I agree with you.

Alberto Duarte
Santa Maria, California

--- Emilie Garcia  wrote:

> Yes,  Alicia,
> 
> I also have wondered where a correspondent on the
> group lives, and thinking it would be helpful to
> those reading my e-mails, I usually end my e-mails
> with my full name and where I am located.  I often
> wish others would do likewise.
> 
> Emilie Garcia
> Port Orchard, WA.
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Alicia Carrillo
> Sent: Friday, July 01, 2005 2:22 PM
> To: ranchos@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [ranchos] File - Who's Who
> 
> I know that I have found the who's who extremely
> valuable. When someone sends a message and I'm
> curious about their (specific research area I just
> go to who's who and do a quick look up on their
> area, surnames etc. Sometimes I wonder to myself,
> "where does this person live? and this I can also
> find quickly in who's who. So please if you have not
> already posted on who's who, please do because it's
>

Just one thing that I missed from the last post:

A "Ranchería" is a collection of ranchos.

--- In ranchos@yahoogroups.com, "Victor Villarreal"  
wrote:
> Emilie,
> 
> In Mexico every State has a constitution that sets its own laws and 
> codes, including the definition and requirements of 
their "Political-
> Administrative Categories".  For example, I found on the Internet 
> some code from the State of Chiapas, which I believe is very much 
> like the code from other Mexican States.  What follows is a summary 
> as far as inhabitants is concerned:
> 
> Name            Inhabitants
> Ciudad (City) at least 10,000 
> Villa (Village) at least 5,000 
> Pueblo (Town) at least 2,500
> Rancherías, Etc. at least 300
> 

Emilie,

In Mexico every State has a constitution that sets its own laws and 
codes, including the definition and requirements of their "Political-
Administrative Categories".  For example, I found on the Internet 
some code from the State of Chiapas, which I believe is very much 
like the code from other Mexican States.  What follows is a summary 
as far as inhabitants is concerned:

Name            Inhabitants
Ciudad (City) at least 10,000 
Villa (Village) at least 5,000 
Pueblo (Town) at least 2,500
Rancherías, Etc. at least 300

What follows is the text in Spanish which sets other requirements.  
Of course as a human settlement grows it acquires a new category, 
which is the same as saying that today's cities are 
yesterday's "rancherías".  Please note that those numbers above are 
taken from the State of Chiapas code.  Zacatecas or Jalisco's 
requirements can vary.

Victor



ARTICULO 5.- LAS CATEGORIAS POLITICO-ADMINISTRATIVAS SE CLASIFICAN EN:
I.- CIUDADES;
II.- VILLAS;
III.-