Historian Jose Maria Muria Presented Book
Cultural Evenings at the Cuale Cultural Center
On the last Friday of every month, different shows will take place at the deck of the Cuale Cultural Center
There was a sell out audience, the presence of rope twirlers and tens of people wearing charro attires –all members of the Municipal Charro Association Federation- made up for the absence of a mariachi band, dressed up the presentation of the most recent book by Jose Maria Muria, “Origins of Charreria and its Name”.
On the evening of Thursday, March 18, even with an overcast sky and a light rain, the expectation for knowing the work of the historian, museographer, author and politician assembled tens of people in the City Hall Courtyard, where the program opened with a charro singer in a quite suitable mood to the book’s theme, published by Miguel Angel Porrua.
In the presence of Mayor Salvador Gonzalez Resendiz, Under director of Arts and Culture Monica Venegas delivered a welcome speech, and thanked the author for choosing this city to present his book.
Presenter Jose Diaz Escalera apologized for his limited knowledge on the subject, but along his extensive presentation he made well informed remarks, and even read fragments of the book.
Columnist Adan Leyva Avalos, a specialist, reminisced that Jose Maria Muria dictated a conference hereon the theme that gave origin to the book, which he considers a valuable contribution to the charro culture and calls for the preservation of one of the most deeply rooted Mexican traditions in Puerto Vallarta.
While historian Jose Maria Muria unveiled the symbolism of presenting his book in Puerto Vallarta rather than in Mexico City or Guadalajara, and said that he, in fact, gave a conference in 2002 when his research was in its early stages.
He said that around those years, he was driving when he saw a sign in the state of Hidalgo that read “Welcome to the birthplace of Charreria”. “I thought it was unfair, and started delving into it”. With the first notes he wrote a paper to enter a history contest in Lagos de Moreno, “Which I won” he says.
More than one hundred references document the book, which also includes anecdotic facts and field research. The author said he felt it was time to publish his work, even though “a book is never really finished; but there was enough material to explain the origins of Charreria”.
Mayor Salvador Gonzalez Resendiz, after thanking the author on his presence, publicly announced that he is the City Hall’s cultural consultant.
Tequila was offered to all in attendance, and the evening went on with music and commentary on the book, whose presentation was promoted by the Department of Art and Culture.