Viva Mexico Independence Day Festival to feature 13-foot pinata
West Chicago's Viva Mexico Independence Day Festival will include something of the wow factor this year as organizers prepare for what will be an extraordinarily festive celebration in the community's downtown on Sunday, Sept. 13.
Fernando Ramirez, president of the Mexican Cultural Center DuPage, which is the organization coordinating this year's event with support from the City of West Chicago, has provided 6,500 feet of hand-cut papel picado with which to line Main Street, from approximately Route 59 to West Washington Street.
Papel picado is a Mexican folk craft. It is a series of colorful flags or rectangles, strung together to form a banner of sorts which will be hung from street pole to street pole in anticipation of the festival. Ramirez traveled to Mexico in order to acquire a customized run of the art form which was designed especially for the event. It was hand-chiseled to read Viva Mexico and West Chicago and will create a unique and impactful marketing strategy to make people aware of the celebration. "We are counting on the papel picado to raise awareness for our event, and to capture the spirit and pride so many of West Chicago's residents feel about our heritage," Ramirez said.
More often used for Day of the Dead celebrations, another Mexican tradition which honors those who have died, papel picado is typically created in the colors of the Mexican flag, green, white and red. However, in an effort to bring the entire community together, Ramirez opted to commission this year's papel picado, which was made in Guadalajara, Jalisco, in multi-colors of bright yellow, green, light blue, purple and Mexican rose.
A Piñata of Extraordinary Size
Another huge attraction at this year's event will be a 13-foot burro (donkey) piñata created by West Chicago resident Victor Arellano. It was built to attract the community and its neighbors to the Viva Mexico Independence Day Festival to celebrate a significant piece of Mexican heritage. The burro (donkey) was chosen because it's a traditional Mexican icon during the Christmas holiday. It represents "Las Posadas", where children re-create the voyage Mary & Joseph took while searching for an inn riding a "burro".
Piñatas have existed for centuries. Although strongly associated with Mexico, historical reference points to them having originated in China. The custom was passed to Europe, particularly Spain and Italy, by Marco Polo during the 14th century. By the 16th century, Spanish missionaries to North America used the piñata to attract converts to their ceremonies. While the religious significance has been mostly lost, the ceremony that occurs with it has remained mostly intact. That ceremony includes each participant, usually a child, having a turn at hitting the piñata with a wooden stick to try and break it to release the goodies contained inside.
"When the plans began for the construction of this piñata, I had to take Mother Nature into consideration. The piñata needed to withstand the outdoors. In my opinion, the best materials to use were fiberglass and wood. The wood pieces were wrapped with fiberglass and fleece. The exterior was covered with colorful frayed plastic strips that decorate it. Wheels were added to the feet of the piñata to allow ease in movement. Metal hooks were inserted in order to allow the piñata to be pulled and lifted. A trap door was constructed for the purpose of adding treats", he explained. Rather than breaking the 13' burro to release its filling, the public will have the opportunity to pull various ribbons. One lucky person will pull the right one, triggering the door to open in a happy surprise. "The piñata's filling will be a surprise, but we promise it will be a great treat for everyone," said Arellano.
It has been a labor of love which has taken Arellano about two weeks to build, and he is grateful to Fernando Ramirez, president of the Mexican Cultural Center DuPage, for the opportunity. Woodworking, which started as a hobby, has grown into a passion for Arellano. "Having had the opportunity to build this piñata is one I will never forget. From sketching the idea on my dining room table, to building a life-like structure, has been very rewarding", he said.
Arellano gives credit and thanks to his father, Guadalupe Arellano, for helping him during the construction of the piñata. Without his father's help, he says he would have been lost. Also, he expressed gratitude to his wife, Xochilt and children Victor & Xitclahli for their help and support. "There were times where we were running back and forth to the store for more material, or re-arranging our schedules to help one another out. Their devotion and help to see this project through meant the world to me. I hope the joy this experience has brought me will be reflected in my work; that everyone who sees it will be enticed to learn about the Mexican culture; that it serves as a symbol and represents the diversity of our community, allowing us all to embrace it."
The long tradition of the piñata continues to enchant parties all around the world, bringing everyone together for a joyful time. Now, West Chicago is readying for its own joyful celebration of community, with a 13-foot burro as one of its centerpieces.
For a schedule of West Chicago's Viva Mexico Independence Day Festival including the start time of the parade, visit www.westchicago.org.