Tamales: History, Regional Differences, and Family Cultural Interpretations

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Tamales: History, Regional Differences, and Family Cultural Interpretations

Introduction:

Tradition has been said to mirror a way of life. Observation has concluded that participants in tradition “actively construct as well as reflect culture and community” (Sacks 275). For most people in the 21st century, tradition only reveals itself during special times or certain seasons. For others it is simply a way of life. The foodways of Mexicans and Native Americans are of particular interest in this study because of the food that grew from necessity and is maintained as sacred or reserved for only special occasions. The tamale is one such food. Significantly changed and altered throughout history it has remained a food of commonality and prestige at the same time. The tamale represents a nation that thrived as a people and has continued to live on through the traditions created hundreds of years ago by women who strive to better their community, their men, and the general way of life and welfare of their people. Native American people are the backdrop of southwestern history and as such we often look to them for answers regarding the past. The ‘past’ provides acts as vault filled with a wealth of information concerning a great number of cultural artifacts.

My personal history with tamales is filled with thoughts and memories of family, fun, love, and laughter. I began making tamales with my mother, grandmother, and aunts at a very early age. In the beginning, I was not allowed to participate too deeply. As I grew older and began to appreciate the delicate balance of spreading, filling, wrapping, and steaming, my hands and my soul became sincerely imbedded in a tradition so deep it almost ove...

... middle of paper ...

...s attachment to each other is created through the events that occur in the kitchen.

Works Cited

Bensinger, Ken. “Hot Tamales vs. “Happy Meals.” Art News: Art in America. 101:10 (2002): 56.

Girardin, Carmen. Personal Interview. 11 July, 2007.

Gutierrez, Nieta. Personal Interview. 11 July, 2007.

Lasater, Nicole. Personal Interview. 11 July, 2007.

Martinez, Melanie. “The Molino.” Fourth Genre: Explorations in Non-Fiction. 7.1 (2005): 1-8.

Sacks, Maurie. “Computing Community at Purim.” The Journal of American Folklore. 102.405 (1989): 275-291.

Sanchez, MaryEllen. Personal Interview. 11 July, 2007.

Soto, Gary. Too Many Tamales. New York: Putnam and Grosset, 1996.

Tapp, Alice Guadalupe. Tamales 101: A Beginners Guide to Making Traditional

Tamales. California, Ten Speed, 2002.

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