Pancho Claus Update: Richard Reyes Faces Heart Surgery but Keeps the Holiday Spirit Alive
This holiday season, we got some bad news. Richard Reyes, the Houstonian known as Pancho Claus, has been hospitalized and is awaiting open-heart surgery after a recent heart attack. This is devasting for the thousands who look forward to seeing the zoot suit-wearing, lowrider-driving local hero every year. He was even inducted into the International […]
How a Salty European Fish Became a Mexican Christmas Dish
Bacalao Navideño stands as the quintessential Mexican Christmas delicacy in regions across the country.
From Venezuela to TikTok: The Online Journey of El Burrito Sabanero
What Christmas song is so popular this season that you just can’t escape its tunes? You guessed El Burrito Sabanero, didn’t you? And you’re not alone. As El Pais writes, “If there is a Christmas anthem capable of competing in popularity with All I Want For Christmas Is You itself, it is, without a doubt, […]
The Latina Roots of Alexis Bledel: Rediscovering a Gilmore Girl
The air is crisp and the leaves are turning the golden colors of fall. This can only mean one thing: it’s “Gilmore Girls” season! The popular television series, which first aired on the WB channel, in 2000, remains an important part, aka new tradition, of autumn for fans across generations. Yet, while many enjoy the […]
La Catrina: The World’s Most Elegant Skeleton and How She Ended Up in a Fancy Hat
Each year, during Dia De Muertos, we see her everywhere. She’s La Catrina, an elegantly dressed skeleton who is known around the world, and makes Halloween ghouls look underdressed and underwhelming by comparison. Why is this skeletal lady donning flowers, a feathered hat, and maybe some French lace though? The answer has deep roots in […]
Remember that time Disney tried to trademark ‘Dia de Los Muertos’?
Did you know Disney once tried to trademark “Dia de los Muertos”? Yes, they tried to own the name of the centuries-old holiday. In 2013, as Pixar was developing what would eventually become “Coco,” Disney filed to trademark the phrase for use on everything from toys to cosmetics. But things didn’t go as planned. “Disney […]
Miami Beach Honors Desi Arnaz, the ‘I’ in ‘I Love Lucy’
Did you know that before Desi Arnaz was ‘Ricky Ricardo’ on the hit television sitcom “I Love Lucy,” he was a young Cuban immigrant struggling in South Florida? No? It’s OK. You’re not alone. Most of us didn’t know. Arnaz is known by millions for revolutionizing television as we know it. But his story of […]
The 3 Levels of the Día de Muertos ‘Ofrenda’
Have you ever wondered how to truly honor loved ones who have passed on? For many, the answer lies in building an ofrenda, or altar, for Dia de Muertos, aka the Day of the Dead. The ofrenda, which means”offering” in English, is the centerpiece of this holiday, which is celebrated on November 1 and 2. […]
Forgotten Deportations: The ‘Mexican Repatriation’ of the 1930s
In the 1930s, during the Great Depression, the United States government initiated a dark chapter in American history. It’s been called it the Mexican trail of tears, a reference to the U.S. government’s forced displacement of around 60,000 people of the “Five Civilized Tribes,” in the 1800s. Like President Andrew Jackson before him, President Herbert […]
Hurricanes: From Mayan and Taino Gods to Modern Storms
As news of Hurricane Milton makes the rounds on the internet and social media, one story stands out. Anthropologist James L. Fitzsimmons‘ piece “Centuries ago, the Maya storm god Huracán taught that when we damage nature, we damage ourselves” connects modern weather patterns to ancient origins. As one Reddit user commented “A science blog, publishing an […]
How Latin America Ignited America’s Love for Barbecue
As grillmasters head outside to barbecue for Labor Day, they might be surprised to learn that this great American pastime isn’t U.S.-born at all. In fact, its origins lie far to the south — in Latin America. It’s true. Barbecuing as we know it is a cooking technique introduced by the Spanish and borrowed from […]
Meet Los Chicaneros: The Most Famous Family in Latin America
When it comes to social media influencers, the Botero Family is thriving. Better known as Los Chicaneros, the Botero family of four is a hit across all social media with their candid, and funny, relatable skits. Their content, which focuses on everyday moments, has made them one of the most prominent content creators in the […]