Rebozos Mexicanos
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The rebozo or shawl apperantly had nothing resembling it before the Conquest of Tenochtitlan by the Spaniard conqueror Hernan Cortez. Due to the fact that Mexican women never wore a hat to go to church on Sundays, it seems that the usage of rebozos originated by pure necessity.
In Mexico the “ rebozo” is of the same importance to women as the “sarape” to men. It is her coat, hat and serves as a cradle for the baby on her back. Also , the “rebozo” serves as a blanket when is laying besides her. The “rebozo” is used as a stand for a basket or water jar, as a cover for a clay plot of “frijoles” or “tamales” and as a basket to bring groceries from the market.
Often young girls wear “rebozos” folded over the shoulders and cross in front for adornment. “Rebozos” for adults are about a yard wide by two and a half long; there are “rebozos” for children also. Originally “rebozos” were used only by popular masses in Mexico; due to this fact these items, for many years were made with simple cotton thread and dyed with very conservative colors such as: Dark, blue, gray, brown and with fine white pin-point designs. In present days, “rebozos” are used not only by poor but by females in the upper social classes and manufactured with fine textiles such as silk.
The patterns in the rebozoz are achieved in the dyeing and require great skill. The weavers take balls of white thread and form skeins with the help of a wheel; then they tie the thread at certain points so that it doesn't take the dye, thus forming the disign. Most of the traditional rebozos are identical in color and designs except in the State of MIchoacan where they have a plain dark blue background with a length wise stripe and often bright colors in the borders.
The best rebozos, acording to popular believes, are those that are woven with such a fine thread that the saying is that they could be pulled through a ring. Santa Maria in San Luis Potosi and Tenansingo in the State of Mexico make rebozos with extraordinary fine quality, with knotted designs in the fringe of birds and flowers, taking lengthy periods of time to finish them. In the mexican popular culture, young girls know how to use rebozos so as to enhance their charm and dignity.