Thursday, December 4, 2008

Jíbaro Hoedown

Now that you've whetted your appetite for música jíbara, you can get a taste of a real Puerto Rican-style parranda (a musical Christmas party) this Friday (12/5) at Diamante's Arbolito de Esperanza celebration in Cary. Local musicians Ricardo Granillo, Pako Santiago and Luis Rivera are slated to accompany the singing of traditional Puerto Rican Christmas songs at the casual potluck dinner and treelighting ceremony. Kids age 8-12 will also be chosen to be "prince" and "princess" in the upcoming Dia de Los Reyes parade.

Guests who wish to donate to Diamante's Estrella de Esperanza campaign, which provides aid to low-income Latino families at the holidays, are asked to bring an unwrapped toy or non-perishable food item. Last year, the drive raised enough food for 37 familes and provided gifts for 107 children. This year, Diamante Executive Director Lizette Watko plans to top that, since they have identified over 300 kids and 105 families in need of assistance.

WHAT: Arbolito de Esperanza - potluck, treelighting & food drive

WHEN: Friday (12/5) 6:30-8:00 pm

WHERE: Herb Young Community Center, Room B, 101 Wilkinson Avenue, Downtown Cary (Chapel Hill Rd. & North Academy St.)

Lookee here: The Raleigh-Cary Spanish Language Meetup has made this an official meetup event.



Adults dressed as the Three Kings give candy to kids at last year's Dia de Los Reyes (Epiphany, Jan. 6) parade in Cary.



UPDATED Thursday:

güiro boricua
Photos from the party. Click on the world's best guiro to see more.

Ricardo Granillo, Pako Santiago, Billy Marrero did some musical accompaniment for the singing of traditional Latin American Christmas songs. Except for Feliz Navidad, I hadn't heard any of these before, but a little girl just arrived from Cuba with her parents was singing along. "El Burrito Sabanero" was cute. I finally figured out as I was listening to this that "Belén" equates to "Bethlehem." From the other songs I've heard (like Celia Cruz), I always thought it was a Havana neighborhood! (I guess it's both.)

1 comment:

Billy Marrero said...

This guiro was made by Harold of Artesanias El Trapiche, Orlando Fl. 407-375-6916. It has engraved on it the verse of "Verde Luz" written by Antonio Caban Vale "El Topo" Puertorican Trvador.