CHERAN: a sierra TARASCAN village — BEALS 



137 



MAYORDOMIAS 



Maijordomias ai'e undertaken by families 

 voluntarily. The word family is used advisedly, 

 for it is doubtful if a man would ask for a 

 tnayordomia unless his wife was in full accord, 

 for much of the successful carrying out of the 

 duties depends on the cooperation of the wife. 

 The motives are definitely religious and the 

 persons taking mayordomias are always pious 

 and loyal Catholics. In visiting the various 

 cargutros and observing the images of the 

 saints, almost every time the first question 

 asked of my guide (in Tarascan) when I visited 

 a house was whether I was one "who could see 

 the saints," that is, was I for or against the 

 saints and the mayordomias. However, cer- 

 tain of the mayordGm'ms are restricted to 

 specific occupations. 



For the most part the mayordomias are 

 undertaken to secure some future good or to 

 give thanks for some past good. Undoubtedly 

 mayordomias are sometimes undertaken to 

 secure social prestige, but this appears to be a 

 rare motive. Generally the mayordoviia is 

 sought as the result of a promise, manda. If 

 a man has no sons, he may promise to seek a 

 7nayordomia if he should be favored with a 

 male ofltspring. Sick persons, or families in 

 which there are sickly children, may also make 

 such a promise. On the other hand, one who 

 has prospered greatly may seek a mayordomia 

 to express his gratitude. 



One family, as an example, had a sickly son. 

 The parents obtained the mayordomia of the 

 Holy Child, one of the most expensive. As the 

 mother put it, "The child seemed comforted at 

 the presence of the Holy Child in the house 

 and improved." The following year the parents 

 sought and obtained the mayordomia of the 

 Three Kings. As improvement continued, they 

 added several items to the celebration of the 

 mayordomia, paying the expenses of the dance 

 group, which up to that time had been inde- 

 pendent. 



Other types of promises are also made. 

 Vows to make the pilgrimage to San Juan de 

 las Colchas (Parangaricutiro) have already 

 been mentioned, but shrines of other saints may 

 also be visited. Usually some slight gift, a 



candle or a garment, is taken on the occasion 

 of such pilgrimages. 



MAYORDOMIA of the SANTO NINO 



The mayordoviia of the Santo Nino or the 

 Holy Child, celebrated December 25, is the most 

 expensive of the mayordomias of the cabildo. 

 More than any other it may be undertaken for 

 motives of social prestige and ostentation. 

 The carguero in 1940, according to his wife, 

 did not take the post as result of a vow, but 

 simply for pleasure, "no mas por gusto." 



The new carguero assumes his duties on 

 December 26. The previous day and night the 

 image connected with the mayordomia is left in 

 church. The new carguero taJces the image 

 from the church to his house. Previously, he 

 prepares a special place for the image with tlie 

 help of invited relatives and friends whom he 

 feeds. Usually the place for the image is the 

 "troje." Everything is removed from the room, 

 a suitably decorated altar is prepared, and often 

 an alcove is built up of boards and lined with 

 colored paper. Strips of colored paper are hung 

 from the ceiling and ornaments are sometimes 

 suspended from the ceiling as well. Miniature 

 objects — chairs, metates, dolls, etc. — are fre- 

 quently hung from the ceiling also. 



During the year, the carguero has few duties. 

 He keeps the image in good condition and 

 always ready for visits of persons who may 

 wish to say prayers and who often leave a few 

 alms or burn a candle in honor of it. The 

 carguero also begins accumulating food and 

 property for the ceremonies. He plants as 

 much corn and wheat as possible and prepares 

 animals for fattening. He also accumulates 

 cash. If necessary, he may be helped by his 

 brothers and cousins. 



The first act of the carguero is to assemble 

 dancers to perform the dance of the negritos 

 (pi. 6, lower left). In this also he is helped 

 by his brothers, who invite various young men 

 to perform. The carguero also hires a teacher 

 to teach the dancers their steps and their 

 speaking parts, relatos. For about a week 

 before December 25, the dancers rehearse in 

 the house of the carguero and food is provided, 

 at least in theory. In 1940 one of the assist- 

 ants, Agustln, was a negrito dancer and com- 



