The University of Texas-Pan American’s second annual Navidad Mexicana, a Christmas concert featuring the talents of the Mariachi Aztlan musical group and the Luz de Luna dance company was held Dec. 20-22 at the Edinburg City Auditorium and the UTPA Field House.

The stage was lined with twinkling Christmas lights and cheerful poinsettia arrangements as the mariachis, or musicians began performing their first song, El Viajero. The musicians were dressed in traditional mariachi garb with gold embellishments as they serenaded the crowd of about 170 people.

Francisco Loera, a UTPA modern languages and music professor is one of three directors for the UTPA mariachi program. He said the group goes on tour throughout the U.S. and Mexico during the year, but stays in the Valley to perform their Christmas concerts.

The musical group did three shows at the beginning of December, according to Loera, then went on tour to New Mexico where they did about six shows.

Mariachi Aztlan will perform three shows at the Edinburg City Auditorium from January 11-13.

While the mariachis performed, dancers dressed in colorful, ruffled dresses and braided hairstyles with ribbons began to take the stage and dance along to the music. The dance styles ranged from playful, theatrical dances to ballet, zapateado, or Mexican-style tap dancing and folklorico, or traditional Mexican folk dancing.

The performers were energetic and lively as they sashayed across the stage and into the aisles of the theatre. Some dancers extended their hands to audience members, engaging them in the performance. A couple of twinkly-eyed winter Texans accepted the invitation to leave their seat and merrily spun around with the grinning dancers.

Halfway through the concert, a lone folklorico dancer in an emerald green and white dress began performing her solo with fluidity and grace. As the mariachis played, she moved her head and flouncy skirt from side to side, resembling a ribbon moving through water.

For one audience member, UTPA nursing student, Jessica Hernandez, the folklorico dancers’ performances evoked nostalgia.

“I used to dance folklorico in high school; it was so much fun,” she said. “So to see it again, I was like ‘Aw, how pretty.’ It brought back happy memories.”

The concert closed with some classic, Christmas carol selections such as Winter Wonderland and White Christmas. During the carol performances, Winter Texans cheerfully began singing along and clapping in time to the music.

As the mariachis sang their closing song, Feliz Navidad, the crowd collectively joined in and tapped their toes to the beat.

Montana native, Greta Brinkmann said although she has been spending her winters in the Valley for the past 19 years, this was her first mariachi Christmas concert.

“I had never seen anything like this before. The performers were just wonderful,” said the 79 year old. “I can’t speak or understand the language very well, but it was beautiful to watch and to listen to.”

LIGHTING CEREMONY
The sounds and scents of Christmas filled the air Nov. 29 at UTPA’s fourth annual tree lighting celebration at the Student Union commons.

Holiday spirit enveloped the place as students sipped on hot chocolate and children busily worked on ornament crafts, nibbled on cookies and took pictures with Santa.

The event allowed the UTPA community to kick off the holiday season without having to make plans or lighten their pocketbooks.

Maya Fuentes, a first grader at Perez Elementary in McAllen, was excited to celebrate the holiday season in November.

“I think it’s so cool Santa was here because it’s not even December yet,” Fuentes said. “I got to take a picture with him and make Christmas crafts.”

As the tree lighting celebration wound down, members of the University Program Board began setting up for the following event, Winter Fest, which also celebrated its fourth anniversary.

Outside the Union, the latest pop songs blared from giant speakers as the celebration began. Three jumbo interactive inflatable activities took form in the grassy area outside of the Union’s patio and people began lining up for the fun.

Near the inflatables, picnic tables stocked with hundreds of Delia’s tamales were set up to feed anyone with an appetite for Valley cuisine. UPB members stood by with hair nets and gloves to help serve the food.

Inside the Union, a craft table was set up for wreath making, where the completed wreaths were to be donated to a local nursing home.

UPB member Angela Buitron, a freshman accounting major, manned the wreath-making station.

“So far, we’ve had about 67 people come by to make wreaths for the nursing home,” she said. “Besides a couple of ornaments breaking, it’s been a success.”

UPB’s Winter Fest welcomed more than 200 people, according to UPB chair and Ad/PR major, Joshua Montoya.

For one particular UTPA student, Samantha Salas, a junior English major, the holiday festivities were a nice break from school.

“This is my first time coming to the tree lighting and winter fest,” Salas said. “It’s been a lot of fun. I’m waiting for my sister to get here so I can race her on the hamster wheel.”

The hamster wheel, according to Giovanni Lopez, a junior chemistry major and UPB founder, proved to be the most popular attraction of the evening. The inflatable activity involved two clear, large spheres that competitors would climb into and then roll down the inflatable track while racing an opponent.

As the hamster wheels deflated, the music became quiet and the number of tamales dwindled, so did the crowd.

Lopez said the event was a success and topped festivities from past years.

“I think Winter Fest is going to keep getting better every year,” he said.