Charro Days Unveils 2012 Official Poster
BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS-JANUARY 25, 2012
The official 2012 Charro Days commemorative poster was unveiled Wednesday, January 25 at the Charro Days Headquarters, 455 E. Elizabeth St. Brownsville
Artist Don Breeden says he was inspired by the very popular first poster in the series which included illustrations of the Charros who rode horseback in the downtown Brownsville parades.
“I expanded on that idea and took it to a new level. I think this poster is going to be even more popular than the first one I designed and illustrated in 1991,” said Breeden. “It has Charros, flags, horses and more”.
In this new poster, Breeden used live models from the Charro Association to pose in authentic costumes.
“I am always reminded of the parades and the Charros riding the horses that lead the parade and what a memorable sight that is,” said Breeden.
One of the Charros in the new poster who is on horseback holding the US flag also posed for the first poster in 1991.
“Over 20 years ago and he’s still riding horses and I’m still painting pictures for Charro Days, “said Breeden.
Breeden says the new poster incorporates an older rendition of the B&M International Bridge in the background along with an image of a Texas Flag with the headline “Celebrate the Spirit!”
“It’s more than just a headline, it a theme for Charro Days and I wanted to also capture that in my poster,” said Breeden.
The posters will be available free for the public beginning Thursday, January 26 at the offices of Charro Days and the Brownsville Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The Charro Days Poster idea started in 1991 by the Brownsville Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. (BCVB) to help promote the festive weeklong international celebration of Brownsville’s historical and cultural ties to Mexico. Subsequent posters with different Charro Days themes were published from 1995-1998 and from 2004 - present day.
The 75th anniversary of Charro Days Fiesta begins February 19 and continues through February 26. For information, please go to www.charrodaysfiesta.com
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The 74nd Charro Days Fiesta kicks off Feb. 20th and continues through Feb. 27th.
Contact: Charro Days, Inc.; (956) 542-4245
E-mail:Charrodaysfiesta@sbcglobal.net
Charro Days Twitter: twitter.com/CharroDays2011
Baille del Sol kicks off annual fiesta (2011)
By JACQUELINE ARMENDARIZ, Brownsville Herald
Brad Doherty/The Brownsville Herald
Students from Idea Frontier Academy entertain the crowd on Sunday (2-20-2011) at the annual Baile Del Sol that officially kicked off Charro Days.
Charro Days’ Baile del Sol might have been renamed the Baile del Viento on Sunday, as the sun peeked out only briefly among clouds blown about by high winds that pestered dancers and festivalgoers alike.
But the show went on and eventually the sun finally shined just as the official start to Charro Days — the celebratory yell, or grito — pierced the air at 3 p.m.
In a staccato of excited yells from the crowd came cries in Spanish of:
"¡Viva México!"
"¡Viva Brownsville!"
"¡Arriba Charro Days!"
Confetti burst into the air and mariachi music played as Charro Days President Kenneth Lieck asked, "Was that loud enough for you?"
Strong winds earlier in the day couldn’t be entirely ignored as gusts blew hats off heads and pieces of food off plates.
"We’ve encountered problems with the banners flying out of some of our tents," Carlos Bañales, executive director of Charro Days, said. "It is a factor, but it seems to be turning out to be a good day. It’s windy, but I see people walking in."
The National Weather Service in Brownsville issued a wind advisory Sunday morning, warning sustained winds in the city would be around 30 mph, with gusts up to 40 mph until late afternoon.
The 74th annual Charro Days celebration began at noon with troops of young dancers lining East Elizabeth Street, dressed in traditional Mexican clothing, representing various regions of the country with their movements and styles, and the city’s border culture.
In a rainbow of colors — yellow, blue, red and green — the skirts of one group of young girls swayed in the wind as they danced.
Joel Sativañez, a west Brownsville resident, brought all three of his children to the Baile del Sol on Sunday.
His daughters, ages 4 and 6, wore matching suits of white leather embroidered with yellow — topped off with sombreros — while his son wore a similar black suit with white embroidery and an accompanying sombrero.
The three little charros attentively sat in the stands watching other children dance.
Sativañez, a Brownsville native, said he attended Charro Days much of his life as a youth and continues the tradition with his own family now.
"It’s really nice when people dress up," he said of Charro Days. "It’s a custom. It’s us. If nothing else, the kids love it."
The celebration also has a deeper meaning, he said.
"It’s a tradition and helps the kids feel better about being from Brownsville," Sativañez said. "It’s different other places. ... It helps them be proud of who they are."
Every year, he said, right after Christmas, his children start to ask about Charro Days. They love to be in the costume contest, he said. Last year his daughters won second and third place and this year his son hoped to participate in the flour tortilla taco eating contest, he said.
"I like to come to Charro Days because we get to dress like we’re from Mexico and we get to go places to celebrate," 7-year-old Joel Sativañez said, with his father proudly standing nearby.
After the official start of Charro Days with the collective grito, came the now 14-year-old flour tortilla taco eating contest.
In 2 minutes and 13 seconds, Brownsville resident Cirilo Tamayo Jr. went on to reclaim his crown as "El Rey de las Tortillas" by eating four pounds of refried beans nestled in a tortilla with a diameter of about two feet.
In a display of raw eating-machine power, Tamayo set a new record and won $50 while going against seven other men.
Last year, the record was 2 minutes and 39 seconds.
"I like eating," he said when asked what he thought helped him win. "I always eat all the time. It’s fun."
The champion three years in a row, before missing the contest last year, said he visits Charro Days to enjoy its historical value and spend time with family.
When asked if his win was a matter of training, he said otherwise.
"It’s natural. That’s all it is."
Charro Days continues throughout this week. Check www.brownsvilleherald.com and page A4 of today‘s Herald for the entire schedule.
