Cedar
Admin
Joined : 15 May 2007
Posts : 966
Localisation : Always Texas
|  Subject: Los Pastores  Sat Jan 05, 2008 8:49 pm | |
| When the Indians and the Spanish missionaries experienced their momentous intersection in the wilds of present-day South Texas -- during the first quarter of the eighteenth century -- it soon was discovered that they each carried their own unique, joyful and much-anticipated traditional celebrations. The Catholic Spaniards brought with them Bible-based plays of medieval origin; the native tribes held seasonal dances (christened, 'mitotes,' by the friars) which brought their people together and commemorated important aspects of their cosmologies. Gradually, elements of the two ways of celebrating merged as the decades grew into centuries. Even today, vestiges of this symmetry may be seen in San Antonio as Los Pastores is performed at Christmastime.
While it is said that the performance of Los Pastores ('The Shepherds') was neglected for some years, photographs exist of masked, horned actors who took part in the play -- during the 1930s -- at Mission San Jose. In addition, Father Carmen Tranchese -- the Jesuit pastor of the tradition-minded Guadalupe Catholic Church, in San Antonio -- began during the early years of this decade to transcribe the words of Los Pastores .... which had been passed along though many generations of local families by word-of-mouth (this, according to 'San Antonio: A Historical and Pictorial Guide, by Charles Ramsdell).
I never have watched Los Pastores (nor Las Posades -- 'The Inns') being performed .... has anyone else? Below are a few informative links to follow:
http://tinyurl.com/2hdyx2
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/benson/lospastores/
http://tinyurl.com/39kh5d
http://tinyurl.com/2vo8nb
I believe that the mystery plays surrounding the Nativity extended across the Spanish missions system of the Southwest ~ through present-day New Mexico (and probably throughout Old Mexico), Arizona and California as well.
_________________
The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves |
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Anne
Joined : 01 Jul 2007
Posts : 28
| | Subject: Re: Los Pastores Fri Mar 07, 2008 12:38 pm | |
| Hello, fellow history buffs. It's been a long time.
I certainly have heard of this celebration in San Antonio. They are held at this missions I think. It is interesting if the padres brought some really old plays with them to North America and that is what we can see performed today.
I keep telling my husband we need to make a trip to San Antonio. Christmas would always be a nice time and it would be less crowded.
Anne |
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Cedar
Admin
Joined : 15 May 2007
Posts : 966
Localisation : Always Texas
| | Subject: Re: Los Pastores Fri Mar 07, 2008 8:42 pm | |
| Hello, Anne,
It is very nice to hear from you again, and I hope that you are keeping warm and well.
I imagine that San Antonio would provide a unique experience of Christmas. Hope you have the chance to make that trip  I never have visited San Antonio in the winter-time -- only during the spring and summer -- and then of many years past. Being a lover of the old Spanish missions, though, Yuletide spent both within and around them would probably yield a very holy and reflective experience.
I haven't delved very deeply in the past or structure of Los Pastores, but suspect that the festival and play contain both quite ancient European and Native American cultural survivals, and intriguing examples of cultural syncretism.
Take care, Anne
Holly
_________________
The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves |
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