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Charro, in Mexico, is historically the horseman from the countryside, theRanchero, who lived and worked in thehaciendas and performed all his tasks on horseback, working mainly asvaqueros and caporales,[1] among other jobs.[2] He was renowned for his superb horsemanship, for his skill in handling the lasso, and for his unique costume designed specially for horseback riding. Today, this name is given to someone who practicescharreada (similar to arodeo), considered the national sport of Mexico which maintains traditional rules and regulations in effect from colonial times up to theMexican Revolution.[3]
The wordcharro (syn.charrar, charra) was first documented in Spain in the book "Vocabulario de refranes y frases proverbiales" (1627) by Gonzalo Correas as a synonym of dumb or stupid person.[4][5][6] More than one hundred years later, in 1729, in the first dictionary of the Spanish language edited by theReal Academia Española, the "Diccionario de Autoridades"charro was defined as:
The uneducated and unpolished person, raised in a place of little policing. In the Court, and in other places, they give this name to any person from the countryside.[7]
The first edition of the Real Academia dictionary published in 1780, kept that original definition, definingcharro as: "the rough and rustic person, as the villagers tend to be"; but they would add a second meaning for the first time: "adjective that is applied to some things that are too laden with decoration and in bad taste".[8] Thus, it was a derogatory term applied to country people because they’re perceived as ignorant, rough and unsophisticated, and to things that were too laden in decoration but in bad taste. Synonymous with the English terms:yokel,bumpkin, boor,hick,gaudy andgarish
Spanish-English dictionaries like the "Diccionario Español e Inglés" (1786) defined Charro as: "rustic, country like".[9] While the 1802 "A New Dictionary of the Spanish and English Languages" defined it as: "a clownish, coarse, ill-bred person" and "Gaudy, loaded with ornaments in a tasteless and paltry manner".[10]
In 1745, the Basque Jesuit,Manuel Larramendi, argued that the word was ofBasque origin and that it meant: "vile and despicable thing", and wrote that country people and villagers were called that out of contempt.[11] While the historian and philosopherAntonio de Capmany y Montpalau, argued that the origin of the word wasArabic and that it originally meant "bad of moral malice and of customs" passing on to the Spanish to mean artistic malice, thus something "charro" is the same as somethinggaudy andtasteless.[12][13]
In Mexico, since the 18th century, the termcharro was applied in a derogatory manner to theRancheros, the inhabitants of the countryside andhaciendas who carried out all their tasks on horseback, because, as country people, they were perceived as ignorant, crude and unsophisticated. Over time, the word evolved being redefined in Mexico, going from being a derogatory adjective to a noun, synonymous withRanchero or vaquero, and "great horseman". In 1850, the Spanish historian and writer based in Mexico,Niceto de Zamacois, defined whatCharro was in Mexico, as:[14]
Charros: gente del campo que se compone mucho para montar á caballo (country people who are very well formed to ride a horse).
The Viceroyalty ofNew Spain had prohibited Native Americans from riding or owning horses, with the exception of theTlaxcaltec nobility, other allied chieftains, and their descendants. However, cattle raising required the use of horses, for which farmers would hirecowboys who were preferablymestizo and, rarely,Indians. Some of the requirements for riding a horse were that one had to be employed by a plantation, had to use saddles that differed from those used by the military, and had to wear leather clothing from which the term"cuerudo" (leathered one) originated.
Over time landowners and their employees, starting with those living in theMexican Plateau and later the rest of the country, adapted their cowboy style to better suit the Mexican terrain and temperature, evolving away from the Spanish style of cattle raising. After theMexican War of Independence horse riding grew in popularity. Many riders of mixed race became mounted mercenaries, messengers and plantation workers. Originally known asChinacos, these horsemen later became the modern "vaqueros"[citation needed]. Wealthy plantation owners would often acquire decorated versions of the distinctive Charro clothing and horse harness to display their status in the community. Poorer riders would also equip their horses with harness made fromagave or would border their saddles withchamois skin.
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As theMexican War of Independence began in 1810 and continued for the next 11 years, charros were very important soldiers on both sides of the war. Manyhaciendas, or Spanish owned estates, had a long tradition of gathering their best charros as a small militia for the estate to fend off bandits and marauders. When the War for Independence started, many haciendas had their own armies in an attempt to fend off early struggles for independence.[15]
After independence was achieved in 1821, political disorder made law and order hard to establish throughout much of Mexico. Large bands of bandits plagued the early 19th century as a result of lack of legitimate ways for social advance. One of the most notable gang was called "the silver ones" or the "plateados"; these thieves dressed as traditional wealthy charros, adorning their clothing and saddles with much silver, channeling the elite horseman image.[16] The bandit gangs would disobey or buy out government, establishing their own profit and rules.
Towards the mid 19th century, however, PresidentJuárez established the "rurales" or mounted rural police to crack down on gangs and enforce national law across Mexico. It was theserurales that helped to establish the charro look as one of manhood, strength, and nationhood.[17]
During theSecond Mexican Empire,Maximilian I of Mexico reigned asemperor and liked to wear a charro suit as thenational costume to ingratiate himself with his subjects. He was an avid and skilled horsemen and impressed by the local charros. Emperor Maximilian himself designed the elegant all black charro traje, or costume, as acceptable attire for formal occasions, which the charros and mariachi ensembles by extension still use in modern days.[18]
Charros were quickly seen as national heroes as Mexican politicians in the late 19th century pushed for the romanticized charro lifestyle and image as an attempt to unite the nation after the conservative and liberal clashes.
Prior to the Mexican Revolution of 1910, the distinctivecharro suit, with its sombrero,sarape, heavily embroidered jacket and tightly cut trousers, was widely worn by men of the affluent upper classes on social occasions, especially when on horseback.[19] A light grey version, with silver embroidery and buttons, served as the uniform of therurales (mounted rural police).[20]
However, the most notable example of 'charrería' is GeneralEmiliano Zapata who was known before the revolution as a skilled rider and horse tamer.
Although it is said that charros came from the states ofJalisco inMexico, it was not until the 1930s that charrería became a rules sport, as rural people began moving towards the cities. During this time, paintings of charros also became popular.
During World War II, an army of 150,000 charros was created, the "Legión de Guerrilleros Mexicanos", in anticipation of an eventual attack of German forces. It was led byAntolin Jimenez Gamas, president of the National Association of Charros, a former soldier ofPancho Villa during theMexican Revolution who climbed the ranks toLieutenant Colonel in the Personal Guard of Villa'sDorados.
Although the wordcharro was a originally just a derogatory term for country people, synonymous with English wordsyokel or bumpkin, and gaudy, it evolved independently in different countries, becoming a demonym for the people of theprovince of Salamanca, in Spain, also known byCampo Charro, especially in the area ofAlba de Tormes,Vitigudino,Ciudad Rodrigo andLedesma;[21] and a noun synonymous with the nameRanchero, the horse mounted people of the Mexican countryside. In other places in Latin America, it retained its original derogatory meaning. In Puerto Rico,charro is a generally accepted slang term to mean that someone or something is obnoxiously out of touch with social or style norms, similar to the United States usage ofdork(y), (i.e gaudy). The traditional Mexicancharro is known for colorful clothing and participating incoleadero ycharreada, a specific type ofMexican rodeo. The charreada is the national sport in Mexico, and is regulated by theFederación Mexicana de Charrería.
The "charro film" was agenre of theGolden Age of Mexican cinema between 1935 and 1959, and probably played a large role in popularizing the charro, akin to what occurred with the advent of the AmericanWestern. The most notable charro stars wereJosé Alfredo Jiménez,Pedro Infante,Jorge Negrete,Antonio Aguilar, andTito Guizar.[22] The 1969 Western filmCharro! was Elvis Presley's only movie in which he did not sing on-screen; the film featured no songs at all other than his voice singing "Charro!" over the main title and opening credits as gunslinger Presley rides into town. It was also the only movie in which Presley wore a beard. The film's promotion read, 'A different kind of role, a different kind of man'.
In all the states of Mexico – and in some US states such asCalifornia,Texas, andIllinois – charros participate in tournaments to show off their skill either in team competitioncharreada, or in individual competition such ascoleadero. These events are practiced in aLienzo charro.
Some decades ago, charros inMexico were permitted to carry guns. In conformity with current law, the charro must be fully suited and be a fully pledged member of Mexico'sFederación Mexicana de Charrería.[23]
