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Wednesday, May 23, 2012

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Saddling Up Our Horses for Tucson's Rodeo Day Parade

My childhood in the Southwastern U.S., with frequent trips to northern Mexico to see relatives, meant going to a lot of parades. In my dad’s hometown of Cananea in Sonora, Mexico or in the nearest border town to my town, Nogales, it seemed as if there was a parade all the time. They were typically low-key, but nevertheless exciting, affairs: a few pickup trucks, gigantic bulldozers from the nearby copper mines (or sometimes, just one big dump truck), some pretty girls perched in the back of a tired but gleaming low-rider El Camino or pickup truck, and of course, the requisite vaqueros riding their horses. But then there was La Fiesta de los Vaqueros, the annual Tucson Rodeo Parade—the one that topped all others. Every year since 1925, Tucsonans have been polishing their boots, saddling their horses and bringing out their inner cowgirls and boys. This year marked the 85th anniversary of the parade. Having just relocated to Tucson from New York, I wasn't going to miss it.

Photos taken by the writer and courtesy of the Tuscon Rodeo Parade

Moschino paraded western looks down the runway in Milan for Fall 2010. That's nothing new around these parts! Mainstay outfits in the parade feature authentic western finery—Native American, American cowboy and traditional Mexican all make appearances in the parade.  Viewers also dress up: elegant men in suits make a statement with their Stetsons and bolo ties; women put on their beautiful turquoise jewelry; and cowboys and girls wear freshly pressed Levis and Wranglers, tooled belts and fine Western shirts. The more low-key pair fringed coats and moccasins with everyday jeans and jean jackets, baseball caps, and tennis shoes or Red Wing boots for a truly American mix.

Children wear bandanas, colorful Mexican serapes and ruffle-y embroidered dresses, square dancing skirts with pouf-y petticoats, beaded jewelry, cowboy hats and boots, gingham and plaid Western shirts, silver and turquoise bolo ties and concho belts.  Little girls wear braids, some with a tiara atop their heads, Rodeo queen style. Little boys wear bandanas like a train robber or a cattle roper. My childhood memories involve being dressed up by my mother, who did her best to "match" my brother and me, with garments and accessories she found around the house.

Even though there is an element of dress-up involved, the Fiesta de los Vaquero is truly a celebration of Tucson’s unique and rich cultural heritage.

 

Fresh from last week's parade, I sifted through eBay’s chock-full closet to find some fashion inspiration for the kids.  But if you dig deep enough, I’m sure you will find something for yourself there too.

 

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