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INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY — PUBLICATION NO. 2 



has under his orders the anyitakuas or 

 "semaneros." 



The latter are those in charge each week of 

 the hospital or yiiriso. This duty rotates by 

 street blocks. Each week seven or eight fami- 

 lies must go to a house beside the church and 

 one of the group prepares food for the re- 

 mainder and for any sick persons in the town. 

 This service occurs about every 3 months. 

 Those whose service occurs the first 2 weeks 

 in December must provide a group of pastorela 

 dancers; those whose service is the second 2 

 weeks must provide a competing group. The 

 dancers perform December 24, 25, 26, and 31. 

 Dances of the "little old men," viejitos, are asso- 

 ciated with the pastorelas. 



See Appendix 2 for further comparative data. 



DANCES 



The dances performed at Cherc4n are all 

 associated with some religious festival. Or- 

 ganization of the majority of them is part of 

 the duties of the mayordomo, altliough the 

 muros are connected with the fiesta, while a 

 number of unorganized independent dances are 

 given around December 25. At least three of 

 the dances have spoken parts and are essentially 

 dramatic performances. All center around the 

 birth of Christ, December 25, and the visit of 

 the Three Kings, January 6. The greatest 

 public interest, however, seems to attach to the 

 dance of the moros, connected with the fiesta 

 of the patron saint. Participation in dances is 

 voluntary, although vows may be taken by an 

 individual, or a child may be promised to a 

 dance by its parents. 



THE MOROS 



The dance of the moros (Moors) is wide- 

 spread among the Tarascan towns and generally 

 appears to be associated with the fiesta of the 

 patron saint. Usually only four dancers 

 appear. In Cheran, commissioners are named, 

 each seeking a dancer and providing the cos- 

 tume and the horse ridden by the moro part of 

 the time. Good horses are sought and one that 

 will "dance" to the music is especially desirable. 



The moros wear a pair of trousers extending 

 part way down the calf of the leg and slashed 

 to the knee on the outside. These trousers 

 are usually of velvet with rich decoration in 



gold braid and ornaments. Underneath is 

 worn an ordinary pair of cotton calzones. The 

 lower part of the legs is wrapped in cloth to 

 represent leggings. A richly decorated velvet 

 cape is worn over the shoulders, with gold 

 braid and fringe about the edges and gilt orna- 

 ments and often small mirrors scattered pro- 

 fusely over the rest of the cape. Underneath 

 is worn a bright-colored rayon shirt. 



The headdress is a complicated crown of 

 split cane with a number of upright pieces a 

 foot or more in height. The crown and up- 

 rights are decorated in brightly colored papers, 

 feathers, and bright ornaments, including small 

 mirrors. The face is almost covered with a 

 bright rayon kerchief. Shoes are worn. A 

 pair of spurs, with very large metal disks in 

 place of the rowels, completes the costume. 

 The trousers, cape, and headdress are usually 

 rented for the occasion by the commissioner. 

 The rest of the costume is purchased and pre- 

 sented to the dancer by the commissioner. 



The moros parade about on their horses a 

 good deal and also dance, especially at the 

 stores and cantinas, where they are given small 

 presents, cookies, cigarettes, money, or drinks. 

 They usually dance singly or in pairs. The 

 steps are simple shuffling steps designed to give 

 as many opportunities to clash the spurs to- 

 gether as possible. The figures of the dance 

 are not well defined but appear related to 

 European country dances. Realizing from pre- 

 vious experience that without skill in chore- 

 graphic description (and being unable to 

 witness the dances closely), attempts to record 

 steps and figures are of little value, the writer 

 made no effort to secure details. 



THE NEGRITOS 



The negritos, turi'a, appear in connection 

 with the mayordomia of the Holy Child, Decem- 

 ber 25. The brothers and relatives of the 

 carguero invite people to dance. Persons who 

 accept give a promise and have to appear. 

 Thirty to thirty-five unmarried young men or 

 boys are sought, "alert people, good learners, 

 who can read." Also, anyone who wishes may 

 volunteer. In addition to the young men, four 

 little girls participate. Each dancer picks a 

 godmother, who is known as the koronice. 



