1998 The Puebla Folkloric Festival

The Puebla Folkloric Festival - Mexico 1998
Story by Heather MacCulloch Forbes
The
vibrant
music
of
"McCormick
and
MacLeod"
set
the
stage
for
energy‐
packed
performances.
The
glowing
smiles
and
lively
presentations
of
Canadian
Celtic
and
Highland
dance
brought
the
Mexican
audiences
to
standing
ovations.
Our
piper,
Jim
Forbes,
was
a
major
attraction
and
was
decreed
a
prince
by
the
young
Mexican
girls,
as
he
sported
the
full
dress
kilt,
sporran
and
feathered
glengarry.
Many
were
intrigued
by
the
bagpipes,
and
were
excited
to
finger
out
the
notes
as
Jim
blew
into
the
pipes.
They
giggled
at
the
sounds
coming
out
of
this
most
interesting
instrument.
The
troupe
members
were
showered
with
gifts
and
flowers,
signed
autographs,
posed
for
pictures
and
proudly
gave
out
Canadian
pins
to
thrilled
audiences.
In
Atlixco,
Mexico
the
mayor,
Dr.
Neftalt
Salvador
Escobedo
Loletto,
and
cultural
director,
Professor
M.
Edilberto
Toledano
Vergara
presented
the
MacCulloch
Dancers
with
the
keys
to
the
city.
Later,
in
a
cozy
Mexican
restaurant,
a
Mexican
band
serenaded
the
dancers
with
their
beautiful
voices
while
the
mayor
versed
the
adults
on
the
proper
procedure
for
drinking
tequila.
We
were
then
off
to
perform
for
the
warm
and
friendly
people
of
Toluca
in
Mexico
State.
The
standing
ovations,
autographs,
photos
and
gift
exchanges
continued
as
we
left
from
Puebla
State
and
travelled
to
Juan
Rodriguez
Clara,
a
small
town
in
Veracruz.
Here
the
MacCulloch
Dancers
were
given
the
opportunity
to
spend
two
days
in
Mexican
family
homes.
Once
again
we
were
impressed
by
the
generosity
and
friendliness
of
the
Mexican
people.
They
made
us
feel
so
welcome
in
their
homes.
They
kindly
pointed
out
which
dishes
had
hot
chilies
knowing
that
one
chili
could
set
a
Canadian
into
a
fit
of
tears
and
frantically
fanning
one's
mouth.
Our
first
performance
in
Veracruz
was
in
the
small
village
of
Villa
Azueta.
The
following
day
it
was
welcoming
to
see
the
townspeople
of
Rodriguez
Clara
busily
building
a
brand
new
stage
for
our
evening
performance.
The
troupe
already
had
a
following
of
fans
who
gleefully
cheered,
"Canada!
Canada!"
as
we
met
them
in
the
village
square,
pineapple
fields
and
country
churches.
Many
of
them
proudly
pointed
out
the
members
who
were
staying
in
their
homes.
Our
third
day
in
Veracruz
was
spent
on
the
sunny
beach
of
Mocambo
enjoying
the
hot
sand
and
warm
waves.
Following
our
day
of
sun
and
fun,
our
most
generous
festival
director,
Professor
Jose
Andres
Sanchez
Zarate,
treated
us
to
a
scrumptious
meal
in
the
modern
and
very
large
city
mall.
We
then
walked
along
the
port
of
Veracruz
admiring
the
large
ships
and
shopping
in
the
shoreline
markets.
We
were
then
to
leave
Veracruz.
Several
of
our
members
were
anxious
as
we
were
late
for
the
party
where
other
troupes
from
France,
Argentina,
Taiwan,
Panama,
Greece,
Yugoslavia,
Israel,
Turkey
and
the
Ukraine
were
already
celebrating.
Others
were
more
interested
in
sleep.
Just
as
we
had
begun,
we
presented
a
final
lively
show
in
the
Puebla
Theatre
of
the
Arts,
finishing
with
our
signature
performance
of
the
Ceilidh,
step
dancers,
highland
dancers
and
sailors
leaping
into
the
hearts
of
the
Mexican
people
one
final
time.
The
Puebla
Festival
Director,
Professor
Vidal
Calvario
Tepox
presented
us
with
a
beautifully
carved
eagle,
all
framed
in
sculpted
wood.
We
proudly
display
it
in
our
studio,
in
Navan,
as
we
fondly
remember
the
gracious
smiles
of
the
Mexican
people.
While
we
were
in
Mexico
we
witnessed
many
beautiful
sights:
historic
churches,
the
largest
pyramids
in
Mexico,
the
Pyramids
of
Cholula,
pineapple
fields
and
views
of
a
smoking
volcano
called
the
Popocatepetl
Volcano.
A
special
thank
you
the
our
guardian
angels,
Vero
and
Jacob,
and
friend
Moses
for
guiding
us
through
our
adventures
in
Mexico.