The Eagle on the Cactus

by Vigil, Angel

• ISBN13: 9781563087035
• ISBN10: 1563087030
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2000-06-15
• Publisher: Libraries Unltd Inc

Summary

This beautiful tapestry of traditional tales, history, folk arts, and dance offers you a glimpse into the living legacy of Mexican folklore. After an overview of Mexico's history from the Mesoamerican indigenous era to modern times, Vigil explores the fascinating traditions of Oaxacan wood carving, Huichol bead and yarn art, folk masks, folklorico dance costumes, and Mexican folklore. A collection of tales follows, including classic tales, pourquoi creation tales from native people of pre-Hispanic Mexico, and tales from the Spanish colonial era of Mexican history-trickster tales, adventure and wonder stories, and animal fables. Lively reading for older students and adults, the tales may also be used for read-alouds with younger students. With 15 of the 44 tales presented in Spanish as well as in English, this is an excellent resource for Spanish classes and for Spanish-speaking readers. The fascinating background material also makes the book an excellent source for reports and research. Color plates

Author Biography

ANGEL VIGIL is Chairman of the Fine and Performing Arts Department, Colorado Academy, Denver, Colorado, and an award-winning educator, author, and storyteller.

Table of Contents

Preface	xiii
Acknowledgments	xvii
Introduction	xix
History of Mexico	xix
Mexican Folk Arts	xxxiv
The Stories in This Book	xlii
A Guide to the Pronunciation of Aztec and Mayan Names	xlvii
Color Plates appear after page	xlviii
Essential Legends	1	(38)
Background About The Eagle on the Cactus	3	(2)
The Eagle on the Cactus	4	(1)
Background About Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe (Our Lady of Guadalupe)	5	(12)
*Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe (Our Lady of Guadalupe)	7	(5)
Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe	12	(5)
Background About La Llorona (The Weeping Woman)	17	(4)
La Llorona (The Weeping Woman)	19	(2)
Background About La Flor de la Noche Buena (The Legend of the Poinsettia)	21	(6)
La Flor de la Noche Buena (The Legend of the Poinsettia)	23	(4)
Background About La China Poblana	27	(6)
*La China Poblana	29	(2)
La China Poblana	31	(2)
Background About The Legend of the Two Volcanoes	33	(6)
*The Legend of the Two Volcanoes	34	(2)
La leyenda de los dos volcanes	36	(3)
Creation Stories from Indigenous Mexico	39	(48)
Background About The Five Suns	41	(46)
*The Creation of the World: An Aztec Myth	43	(2)
Los cinco soles (La creacion del mundo): Un mito azteca	45	(3)
The Flowing Waters (The Creation of the Earth): An Aztec Myth	48	(1)
Into the Fire (The Creation of the Sun and the Moon): An Aztec Myth	49	(2)
The Trail of Stars (How the Milky Way Came To Be): An Aztec Myth	51	(1)
The Broken Bones (The Creation of People): An Aztec Myth	52	(2)
*Food from the Gods (How Maize Came to the People): An Aztec Myth	54	(2)
Alimento de los Dioses (Como el maiz llego a la gente): Un mito azteca	56	(2)
*Music from the Gods (How Music Came to the World): An Aztec Myth	58	(3)
Musica de los Dioses (Como la musica llego al mundo): Un mito azteca	61	(3)
El Nopal (How the Cactus Came to the World): An Aztec Myth	64	(2)
*The Murmur of the River (How Music Came to the World): A Mayan Myth	66	(2)
El murmullo del rio (Como la musica llego al mundo): Un mito maya	68	(2)
The Possum's Tail (How Fire Came to the World): A Mazatec Myth	70	(2)
The Gift of the Toad (Why People Use Sticks to Make Fire): A Yaqui Myth	72	(2)
Badger Names the Sun (Why the Badger Lives Underground): A Yaqui Myth	74	(1)
*The Bridge of Many Colors (The First Rainbow): A Zapotec Myth	75	(3)
El puente multicolor (El primer arco iris): Un mito zapoteca	78	(3)
Song to Three Stars (Why Coyote Howls to the Sky): A Tarahumara Myth	81	(2)
The Comet and the Tiger (Why the Tiger Has Black Spots): A Mexica Myth	83	(2)
The Rain of Five Years (The Story of the Creation of the World): A Huichol Myth	85	(2)
Stories from Spanish Colonial Mexico	87	(122)
Trickster Tales	89	(23)
*Pedro and the Money Tree	89	(3)
Pedro y el Arbol de Dinero	92	(3)
Pedro and the Pig Tails	95	(2)
*Pedro and the Magic Pot	97	(3)
Pedro y la olla magica	100	(3)
Pedro and the Mule Drivers	103	(2)
Pedro and the Giant	105	(3)
Pedro and the Hanging Tree	108	(2)
Pedro Goes to Heaven	110	(2)
Tales of Transformation, Magic, and Adventure	112	(52)
*The Wonderful Chirrionera	112	(6)
La maravillosa chirrionera	118	(6)
The Waterfall of Wisdom	124	(3)
The Miracle of Mirajel	127	(6)
The Green Bird	133	(5)
The Enchanted Forest	138	(8)
The Jewels of Shining Light	146	(7)
Background About Juan Oso	153	(1)
Juan Oso	153	(11)
Dos Compadres Stories	164	(17)
*Ashes for Sale	164	(5)
Se venden cenizas	169	(5)
The Magic Cap	174	(4)
The Art of Lying	178	(3)
Animal Fables	181	(28)
*The Fox and the Coyote	181	(5)
El zorro y el coyote	186	(5)
*The Lion and the Cricket	191	(3)
El leon y el grillo	194	(3)
The Mouse and the Ant	197	(2)
*The Owl and the Painted Bird	199	(2)
La lechuza y el pajaro pintado	201	(2)
The Ant Who Learned to Play the Flute	203	(3)
The Burro and the Fox	206	(3)
Glossary of Spanish Words	209	(2)
Suggested Readings	211	(4)
Permissions and Credits	215	(2)
Index	217	(6)
Author's Biography	223