As Hispanic Heritage Month concluded, Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) students celebrated Hispanic heritage and culture by participating in Jaripeo festivities. As students celebrated, a better understanding of the culture was experienced through music, food, dancing, and riding a mechanical bull. The event was hosted by the Latin Student Alliance (LSA) and took place in Thomas Plaza on Oct. 15.
Similar to a rodeo, a Jaripeo plays a significant role in Hispanic culture. It is a way for communities to come together to celebrate while enjoying music, food, and activities, LSA historian Cecilia Rafael Castelan said.
“It was really fun, especially because I like to dance,” said sophomore Jean Betancourt.
“And I think it was great in bringing the students together to learn and have fun.”
LSA hopes to provide events like this that create a place to bring students together, Rafael Castelan said. “I enjoyed how everyone was dancing or learning how to dance and enjoying themselves.”
LSA’s co-president Cristal Narciso said while bringing students together, it also “allows new people to enjoy our culture and get a better understanding.” She added, “As well as celebrating the Hispanic/Latinx students on campus, we hoped to bring a welcoming and entertaining environment.”
The food offered a taste of Hispanic culture with esquites, which is a type of Mexican street corn made with mayo, cojito, cheese, and some tajin. In Mexico, they would call this type of food “antojito,” which is a snack. They also served fresas con crema (strawberries and cream), which is a sweet dessert similar to pudding. In addition to the food, agua frescas (a popular Hispanic fruit drink) and hot chocolate were available throughout the night.
The main attraction of the night was the mechanical bull, which gave students a chance to test their jaripeo or bull riding skills. Students were required to sign a waiver before entering the inflatable ring. Once signed up, students could ride as many times as they wanted.
As more students arrived, people began to feel more comfortable and the music and dancing became popular throughout the night. The dance floor was open to all skill levels and welcomed anyone who wanted to learn. The live music played by the band Los Gerentes de la Plaza offered a variety of different music genres. Typically for a Jaripeo, Mexican corridos, norteños, and zapateados are performed.
Betancourt, who has prior dancing experience, essentially served as a dance instructor throughout the night. “A lot of people came up to me wanting to learn to dance,” he said. “There were two types of dance that I helped teach, the norteños and zapateados. I think I taught around ten people how to dance, which was fun.”
Stay up to date with upcoming LSA events through their Instagram @lsa_emu!
