Matachines bringing colorful traditional dance to the shrine

Faith and dance joining in harmony, presenting stirring tradition and color is coming to the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine.

Festival de Matachines, a historical dance of respect and celebration sponsored by the archdiocesan Office of Hispanic Ministry, is set for 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 21. Archbishop Coakley will celebrate Mass for the festival at 9 a.m. at the shrine, followed by a catechesis given by Father Nerio Espinoza.

“The festival ties into our faith because the tradition of dancing comes from our ancestors, the Aztecs dancing for their gods,” said Connie Diaz Jackson, event coordinator. “After the Christian faith was brought, they continued showing reverence through dances and rites to our Lord, Lady of Guadalupe and other saints.

“The spiritual and cultural significance of Matachines in Catholics comes from Indigenous traditions. (Our) faith meets dance in a spectacular blend of tradition and color. Matachines, weaving together threads of diversity into the rich tapestry of the Church.”

The National Institution of Anthropology and History in Mexico states the term “matachines” is used by the Spaniards to describe the Indigenous dancers of Mexico reflects a complex interplay of cultural observation and interpretation. The Spaniards saw similarities between the fact, vigorous movements and colorful attire of the Mexican dancers and the matachines dances they were familiar with from Europe.

According to the National Endowment of the Arts website, the Matachine Dance is a traditional religious dance with roots that go back centuries. It's believed that the Spanish brought the dance to the New World during colonial times as part of their worship and to convert Native Americans to Christianity. 

Matachines sword dancers dressed in ritual attire are a carnivalesque dance troupe that emerged in Spain in the early 17th century, inspired by similar European traditions such as the moresca. The Matachines dance for a deeper religious purpose, since most of them join to venerate either Mother Mary (Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Lourdes, Immaculate Conception, etc.), a saint or simply to worship God.

Origins of the dance point to the Mexican and New Mexican Matachines, a composite of the 'Baile Pequeño' of the Ancient Aztecs and the European Matachines. The clothing and music came from Europe, the dance steps from the Baile Pequeño.

“The shrine is a beautiful place for this event,” Diaz Jackson said. “We truly believe that this festival will bring faithful people from other states and regions, and it would help the shrine to promote it when the people go back to their hometown and the testimony of Blessed Stanley Rother will be expanded.”

The clothing worn by Matachines dancers has multiple meanings and can vary by group:

•    Headpiece: May resemble a bishop's cap to honor the bishop who first saw the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Saint Juan Diego's tilma.
•    Cape: May represent the tilma of Saint Juan Diego, where the Virgin Mary placed her image and roses.
•    Bells, maracas and drums: May represent the music of Indigenous people and their way of praising and showing joy for the Lord.
•    Reeds, beads, and ribbons: May be decorated on nahuillas to make them sound while dancing, functioning as another instrument to accompany the other music.
•    Colors: May be brilliant.
•    Masks: May be elaborate.
•    Curved posture: The dancers curved posture means humility.

The dance is a notable feature of the Advent season and saints-day celebrations in different countries, including some places in the United States. 

The dancers will be judged by experts in dancing and Mexican regional folklore. Groups interested in participating can register for a cost of $100 at archokc.org/matachines. Spectators are welcome, with seating in bleachers available. The shrine gift shop will be open and food vendors will be providing food and drink.

“My favorite part of the festival is that it has been a big challenge, I have learned a lot about this beautiful ministry, and is something new, never done here in Oklahoma,” Diaz Jackson said. “I don’t have knowledge that it has been done anywhere else in the United States.

“I love the idea of gathering many dancers, and for us Catholics and non-Catholics, just everybody to come and enjoy this beautiful devotion to honor our Lord through dances and colorful clothing and corporal movements.”

Jolene Schonchin is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.