LOCATION OF AGUASCALIENTES
As its name Aguascalientes, which literally means “hot waters” in Spanish, implies, Aguascalientes is surrounded by hot
springs in Central Mexico.
BRIEF HISTORY OF AGUASCALIENTES
Aguascalientes was settled by the colonial Spanish because of its silver mining and its location midway between Mexico
City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey. Ultimately, Aguascalientes became a major source of railroad transportation for the
same reasons. Although Aguascalientes’ development as a transportation center was its origins, today it has its
prestige in tourism status as a result of the hot springs which are rumored to cure a variety of diseases.
AGUASCALIENTES CULTURE
In addition to the mineral baths, Aguascalientes has become famous for its Festival, or “Feria”, originally taking place in
the capital city of Aguascalientes, later moved to the Jardin de San Marcos where it has remained since 1848. The
festival was seen as a tribute to each of the professions that called Aguascalientes home, such as
the embroiderers and the railroad workers.
AGUASCALIENTES MUSIC and DANCE
Because the culture of Aguascalientes is so tied to the industry of the area, the music is always lively and often devoted
to celebrating the workers. Taking the traditional mariachi sound found in the bordering areas featuring both strings
and brass, the Sones of Aguascalientes pay tribute to Las Bordadoras, that is, the embroiderers, Los Ferrocarrileros,
that is, the railroad workers, and La Pelea de Gallos, the cockfight. Of course, the civic pride of the people of
Aguascalientes is reflected in one of their most famous dances, Viva Aguascalientes!
AGUASCALIENTES COSTUME
The traditional costume of Aguascalientes was most distinctive in women’s clothes, in that the original settlers began
vineyards in the area which were moderately successful for several years and designs of grapes and are seen on
almost every woman’s garment. In the fabrics used in the women’s clothes, a unique characteristic is the nature of the
embroidery peculiar to Aguascalientes. It is called “deshilado” which is created by the meticulous removal of one thread
at a time by the embroiderers creating patterns based on the threads removed rather than the typical embroidery of
adding threads. The result is lace-like patterns that, along with the grape, make the female fashion of Aguascalientes
identifiable anywhere in the world.
The men of Aguascalientes have traditionally worn striped close-fitting pants with white cotton shirts which invariably
display the Mexican eagle on the back. The striped pants, rather than belted, are tied at the waist by a “rebozo”, a long
narrow scarf with fringed ends. The well-dressed man of Aguascalientes would complete his ensemble with a very wide-
brimmed “sombrero” and black leather boots.
Since many of the dances pay tribute to the workers of the different industries of Aguascalientes, the men’s costumes
would frequently reflect the “uniform” of the workers, such as the Ferrocarrileros, who would be seen wearing overalls,
and the Cockfighters who would be seen wearing ponchos to protect their clothing from the gore of the fight.
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