Fiesta San Antonio is a fun 10 day event that Remembers the Alamo during the anniversary of Sam Houston’s victory over Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto!
Formerly of San Antonio, I now reside in Virginia.
Thus, I’m thankful for the internet to help me keep up with all the fun Fiesta celebrations I miss from San Antonio.
MEET THE OLD GUARD
Everywhere I look on-line this week I see medals galore…especially from The United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps!
Growing up in San Antonio, I quickly became a huge fan of the Old Guard since they were SO 18th century in all of our Fiesta parades and other special events through the year.
Utterly charmed, I wanted so badly to move to Virginia, full of 18th century history.
Now I live in Northern Virginia, not too far from The Old Guard’s homebase, of Fort Meyer.
Many times I have seen them more up close and personal at Colonial Williamsburg Drummer’s Call events!
The musicians of this unit recall the days of the American Revolution as they perform in uniforms patterned after those worn by the musicians of General George Washington’s Continental Army. –The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps
THE OLD GUARD MARCH THROUGH FIESTA
On the Old Guard’s facebook page I’ve enjoyed seeing all their photos of their many performances at numerous Fiesta events this week.
So to once again prove the Virginia-Texas connection, I’ll link to their many events via their facebook page.
- April 18, 2015 – The Old Guard and the investiture of King Antonio part I and part II
- April 20, 2015 – The Old Guard at Fort Sam
- April 22, 2015 – The Old Guard at the Texas Cavaliers’ River Parade
- April 22, 2015 – The Old Guard at Night in Old San Antonio (NIOSA)
As evidenced by the photos, The Old Guard accumulate more medals every day, which I’m sure have been bestowed upon them for participating in such grand manner!
Although these are not regulation, they are permissible during the Fiesta events (many have asked on their facebook page.)
MY OWN FIESTA MEDAL COLLECTION
Even I have a medal collection that has been gifted to me at various special events.
FIESTA MEDAL FROM EL REY FEO
When I was in kindergarten King Antonio came to visit us during Fiesta. He gave us a token, but sadly I no longer have that. =(
When I was a public school teacher El Rey Feo came to our school…and this time I received a medal! Here
El Rey Feo is Spanish for The Ugly King.
Crowned for the first time in 1947, El Rey Feo represents the LULAC Rey Feo Scholarship Committee that raises money for college students.
The tradition of El Rey Feo originated in the Middle Ages of Spain when the common people elected one like them to be king for the day.
FIESTA MEDALS FROM THE TEXAS CAVALIERS
In 2007, my family and I attended the River Parade, courtesy of the Texas Cavaliers.
As part of their gift of tickets, dinner, and pre-parade entertainment we were also gifted two medals!
This one is specific to the Texas Cavaliers.
The second medal the Texas Cavaliers gave to each us was of the River Parade the other night!
The theme was A Fiesta of Film…Red Carpet on the River.
The image is of the Arneson River Theater which is the stage on the Riverwalk, across from La Villita (the original village of San Antonio that dates back to the 18th century) for many special events, including the main stage for the River Parade.
FIESTA ATTIRE
My Fiesta attire began quite simply in kindergarten, when each of us in class made blue paper hats with red plumes, reminiscent of King Antonio’s!
Then we wore them when he greeted us, while gifting each one of us a special token…which I sadly no longer have.
When I taught third grade in San Antonio, our team of teachers made a big deal of Fiesta, having each of our students make their own float out of shoe boxes, for them to carry in a parade for the school while all of us bedecked ourselves in the best Fiesta attire.
One of the teachers made these beribboned straw hats.
While gifting the teachers the smaller one that pins on, the others were for sale.
I purchased the barrette…the larger one.
While most of the teachers had iconic embroidered cotton dresses from Mexico, I wore a white peasant blouse with lots of ruffles that I had sewn.
In the store I found a hot pink ruffled skirt with hoop earrings to match.
We all had so much fun!
For more Fiesta photos, check my Flickr set.
