When African slaves were picked up and dropped in laborious plantations in Jamaica (as well as other locations around the world), it was their duty to pass on the elements of African culture to the next generation. Otherwise the precious legends, languages, proverbs and characters from their home would be forgotten forever. Jamaican proverbs allowed slaves to communicate with each other without their masters understanding. For example an idiom told from one slave to another can impart a specific feeling or event that if the slave master knew about, could cause trouble.

The most popular character in Jamaican folklore is Anancy, also referred to as Anansi, Nancy Spida or Brer Nansi. Anancy is a trickster African spider-god who often goes against other animal gods. Very often slaves would characterize their slave master as a certain animal and tell stories about how Anancy would trick the animal, thus imparting plans of outsmarting them. The spider-god is a great representation of the problems African slaves faced on the plantations. The trickery of Anansy was a necessary way to get past the slave masters, the greed was how slaves justified their need to steal the necessities of life, and even the creature the god represented speaks of the slave’s self image. Parents would also tell their children stories of Brother Spider to strike fear of misbehaving, or the ‘duppy’ (ghost) would get them.

One popular folk story tells of the tiger-god demanding the spider-god to bring him a great swarm of bees. This a great representation of the impossibilities the Jamaican people faced through their history. With the white man symbolized by the tiger-god and the Jamaicans as the spider-god, the request illustrates the unreasonable order and level of danger involved in meeting it. Only through the wise trickery of the spider-god can the bees be convinced to leave their habitat and go to the tiger-god.

Music and poetry have always gone hand in hand with storytelling. The rhythm of poetry adds to the drama of the story and makes it more memorable. The are several differences between European poetry and that originating from Africa, but perhaps the biggest difference is in the use of rhyme, or lack thereof. The poetic form of Jamaican storytelling is not in its rhyme, but in its rhythm and song-like flow. The story is told in stages with rising and falling events, always ending in a lesson from an ancient African king or god. Yes, the lessons are meant to pass stories on to the next generation, but they are also for the purpose of awakening the consciousness in the listener. The stories point out a situation and offer advice on ways to move forward, but with the use of history. So, it is a cyclical process.

Take a look at the lyrics of Jamaican music and you will find more storytelling. Many traditional folk songs tell of simple things like observations of nature. Yellow Bird is an old folk song that speaks of loneliness and a lone yellow bird sitting in a banana tree. Others tell of working in the hot sun for little pay. Mango Time talks about working under the hot sun for little pay harvesting mangoes.

Even today, on the street corners of Jamaican towns you will find men and women standing around telling their stories of the day, some have been heard before and others are tall tales meant to spark humor in the crowd. When you visit Jamaica, stop and listen to the sounds of the local people. No doubt you will hear stories with elements of the African folk tales from hundreds of years ago.

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Jamaican Storytelling is a post from: Reachings

When the Spanish landed in what is now Mexico, they brought with them their own grape vines with the purpose of planting them. And although they found grapes already indigenous to the area, they preferred their own varieties. As soon as Spanish colonialists were able to grow, crush and ferment their own supply of wine, imports from Spain fell dramatically. Thus in 1699, King Charles II of Spain imposed a ban on wine production in New Spain, except for the purpose of communion. For over 110 years, wine was only produced on a small scale in Mexico, that is until the War of Independence ended in 1821. Production rose dramatically as Catholic friars began to grow grapes and produce large barrels of wine. Some of the valleys used for grapes at this time are still known to produce premium wine grapes today.

When Mexico’s Reform War began during the 1850′s, the lands of the churches were handed over to the state, which meant the vineyards were largely destroyed or abandoned. When the war was over, the most important vineyards that produced the best grapes were sold to a private group. Despite the use of premium wine grapes, the wine was overly sweet and of low quality. The next 60 years were a growth period for the Mexican wine industry. President Jose de la Cruz Porfirio Diaz Mori was a fan of Mexican wine and encouraged its production. The industry flourished until the violence of the Mexican Revolution destroyed most of the country’s vineyards.

It was not until the 1980′s that wine production began to climb once again in Mexico, perhaps because of the surge in popularity taking place in California. As Mexican vintners become more experienced, they quality of the wine increases. In fact, some wineries in Mexico have already been won international awards. As wine still struggles to gain popularity as a common beverage among locals, brandy has already found its place. Especially brandy of the sherry variety, it is the most widespread distilled liquor consumed by Mexicans in Mexico.

Wine grapes are grown in three main areas in Mexico: the Baja peninsula, the central provinces and the province of La Laguna. Over the 6200 acres in these regions, the white grapes grown include chenin blanc, chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and viognier. The red wine grapes grown in Mexico are tempranillo, dolcetto, sirah and all five bordeaux grape varieties.

There is a growing trend towards wine tourism in Mexico, especially focused around the many wine festivals throughout the country. Every August in the Valley Guadalupe the Fiesta de la Vendimia takes place. Wine tasting is always part of the festival, as well as various contests, tours, cook-offs, concerts and fishing tournaments. Another such event is the annual Malagon Family Celebration held on the family’s 500 acre property. There is a horse show, live music, food and of course, wine.

Most of the wine consumed in Mexico today is still imported, but more and more restaurants and resorts are adding local vintages to their wine list. If you are planning to visit Mexico, make a point of learning about the wine industry there, and perhaps plan a tour of a local winery. Aside from the majestic beaches and luxurious resorts, Mexico has a rich history of wine to offer as well.

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Wine in Mexico is a post from: Reachings