While living thousands of miles from home, the Zoogocho community of Los Angeles has managed to maintain their connection to Zoogocho, Oaxaca and build on their sense of community, regardless of their geographical distance. The Zoogocho community's celebration of their town's patron saint, San Bartolomé, has provided the Los Angeles-based part of the community an opportunity to maintain their spiritual and social connection to their people, land, and history.
La Union, a collective body of Zoogocho community members, was created to serve the needs of the community in Los Angeles. It has become the coordinator of the social events that help maintain the bond between the two communities of Zoogocho. Through the social and religious events, La Union ensures cultural traditions and practices are upheld. La Union is consulted when it comes to the danzas, even suggesting the teacher they should use.
La Union also solidifies the bond between community members by assisting in the alleviation of some of the stress of the immigrant experience by providing a system of support for the community. One of the many ways they do this is by coordinating a fund drive amongst the community in order to help the family of deceased members. It is done as a sign of support for the family from the whole community because not only has a family lost one of its members, but also the community has lost one of its members.
When it comes to the dance practices, the house hosting the practices is blessed by inviting the community (mostly by word-of-mouth) over before practice begins to pray the rosary. The rosary is usually lead by an elder member of the community. After the rosary is prayed, everyone is offered a wonderful (and delicious) home-cooked meal, and the practice begins while the community offers their support for the dancers by donating food, drinks, money, and their time in order to ensure a proper blessing of the practice space.
The celebration of the patron saint, while being fun and festive, is a way for the community to show their devotion and willingness to sacrifice in the name of Zoogocho's patron saint. La Danza de Los Negritos and the festivities in honor of San Bartolomé, may seem like one big festival, but the reality is that preparation for it begins months in advance and is truly a symbol of the Zoogocho (Oaxaca and Los Angeles) community's ability to come together as one and show their willingness to sacrifice in honor of their patron saint. Quarrels are forgotten when necessary amongst this community and traditions that have been practiced for thousands of years continue to be practiced here in Los Angeles. The communities of Zoogocho in Oaxaca and Los Angeles have proven that they remain a single community splintered by distance.
La Union, a collective body of Zoogocho community members, was created to serve the needs of the community in Los Angeles. It has become the coordinator of the social events that help maintain the bond between the two communities of Zoogocho. Through the social and religious events, La Union ensures cultural traditions and practices are upheld. La Union is consulted when it comes to the danzas, even suggesting the teacher they should use.
La Union also solidifies the bond between community members by assisting in the alleviation of some of the stress of the immigrant experience by providing a system of support for the community. One of the many ways they do this is by coordinating a fund drive amongst the community in order to help the family of deceased members. It is done as a sign of support for the family from the whole community because not only has a family lost one of its members, but also the community has lost one of its members.
When it comes to the dance practices, the house hosting the practices is blessed by inviting the community (mostly by word-of-mouth) over before practice begins to pray the rosary. The rosary is usually lead by an elder member of the community. After the rosary is prayed, everyone is offered a wonderful (and delicious) home-cooked meal, and the practice begins while the community offers their support for the dancers by donating food, drinks, money, and their time in order to ensure a proper blessing of the practice space.
The celebration of the patron saint, while being fun and festive, is a way for the community to show their devotion and willingness to sacrifice in the name of Zoogocho's patron saint. La Danza de Los Negritos and the festivities in honor of San Bartolomé, may seem like one big festival, but the reality is that preparation for it begins months in advance and is truly a symbol of the Zoogocho (Oaxaca and Los Angeles) community's ability to come together as one and show their willingness to sacrifice in honor of their patron saint. Quarrels are forgotten when necessary amongst this community and traditions that have been practiced for thousands of years continue to be practiced here in Los Angeles. The communities of Zoogocho in Oaxaca and Los Angeles have proven that they remain a single community splintered by distance.