In this picture there is traditional handmade silver earrings that were given to my mother on the day of her wedding. There are many old traditions that are still practiced today when getting married.   Everyone has a role preparing for the wedding you can see the importance of strong kinship and familism in the preparation.  The men ask the women’s hand in marriage in three different occasions. They ask for permission and blessing and then the parents and bride and groom talk about the wedding usually Nahuatl.  The elders would sit around the couple as witness and give them advice on being married and how they should treat on another. They talk about the unification of the families as one and the compadrazgo being built.  The men first ask alone then with his parents and finally with his closest family members like siblings and godparents.  The men give the women a silver cross, earrings and the rings. The mother in law usually passes down her own to her eldest son’s wife and goes to the local silver man to make some for her other daughters- in- law.  In the case of my mother my grandmother had passed away and her sister- in laws were the ones who helped my mom. The jewelry is made with silver and shiny beads all hand made. The men and his family give the women a large chiquihuitl (baskets) filled with fruits and bread.  These indigenous traditions have heavy Catholic influences as well as in the town. The church is involved in the wedding not just during the mass but also throughout the wedding process. Old traditions have been shortened and usually in Spanish.  

– I.T.

Relationship:  Child of im/migrant Child of im/migrant