When my wife, Kelly, and I dine at Mexican restaurants in Phoenix, we look forward to much more than great food and better company. We also love the live mariachi music, especially at restaurants like Garcia’s Las Avenidas. No visit to Phoenix is complete without a live mariachi experience. If you’re traveling here for the CLDA conference, you can start your explorations of mariachi by learning about its roots.
Early History of Mariachi
It’s unknown precisely when mariachi originated, but scholars tend to agree it was sometime during the 18th century. (It’s possible that mariachi has roots in the 16th century.) The earliest known written reference to mariachi occurred in 1852 in a letter written by priest Cosme Santa Anna. In mariachi’s early history, it is most often associated with rural festivals.
Uniforms of Mariachi
In the beginning, the musicians wore clothing that was typical for peasants of the time. Mariachis didn’t begin dressing alike in uniforms until after the Revolution of 1910. As mariachi musicians became more affluent, they began to dress in the traje de charro, or the uniform of the horseman. Today, you’ll see contemporary mariachis wear a sombrero, wide bow tie, boots, short jacket, embroidered belt, and ornamental pants.
Origins of the Name
The etymology of the word “mariachi” is a subject of debate among scholars. It’s agreed that it’s native to Mexico. Many scholars believe that the word stems from the currently extinct Coca language of central Jalisco. Another theory is that “mariachi” is a corruption of a French word for marriage or wedding. Proponents of this theory attribute the word to the French Intervention of the 1860s. However, historical documents have been found that date the usage of the word to before the French Intervention era.
The invigorating cultural experiences are just one of the reasons why I’m proud to be an Arizonian. When you visit us in Phoenix for the CLDA conference, I hope you’ll take advantage of the opportunity to immerse yourself in all that the state has to offer.
