Lupita Charro, an essential part of Mexican Culture
The history of the charro dates back to the Spanish Conquest, the most direct translation of the word “charro” to English would be “cowboy”, but Mexican charros are much different than the idea of the American cowboy, with a culture, etiquette, mannerism, clothing style and social status that is quite unique. During the Mexican War of Independence, in the 1810’s charros played an important role on both sides of the war, riding in private militias. Later, charros gained international fame in the Mexican Revolution, in the 1910’s because they formed a great part of the insurgent groups. Both Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata were charros.
A charro outfit is a type of suit originated in Mexico, which is most often associated with mariachi and ranchera music performers. A basic charro outfit includes pants, a jacket which is also known as chaquetillas, a sombrero, silk tie, dress shirt, chaps, serape, and pitea belt. This type of suit originated back in the seventeenth century and men who wore it were highly skilled horse riders who have represented men with national pride, family values, heritage, and honor. The charro outfit is equivalent to that of the popular cowboy of the American West.
Around the 1930s, “charreria” became a national event, popularized by the charros of Jalisco and the state of Mexico, and grew to become Mexico’s national sport. Charreria is best described as a mix of rodeo skills and dressage, with riders showing traditional competitive roping and ranch skills, but also exquisite costumes, custom tack and horse grooming, and horsemanship skills like “dancing horses, similar to Vienna’s famed Lipizzaner stallions.
The elite horsewomen, the Charra, exhibits similar skills while riding side-saddle. The charra outfit for women is similar, with women wearing a long, embroidered skirt, reaching the ankles, instead of the pants. The skirt is typically full enough to allow the woman to ride sidesaddle. Other aspects of the outfit may include a dress shirt, chaps, serape and pitea belt. The outfits are often colorful. The footwear is either a high-heeled boot, or a leather shoe.
Lupita Dolls celebrate the Charro and Charra in their colorful splendor.
Lupita Dolls also have a Charro for "Dia de los Muertos"
