Puerto Vallarta will host the 6th Annual Charro International Championships from February 1 – 5, 2017 at Arena Vallarta.
On Wednesday, February 1, begins the Traditional Verbena Popular at Los Arcos on the Malecon in Puerto Vallarta, and starting Thursday through Saturday the qualifying, as well as double finals on Sunday, February 5 at Arena Vallarta.
The charreada, or charrería, is a competitive event similar to rodeo and was developed from animal husbandry practices used on the haciendas of old Mexico. The sport has been described as “living history,” or as an art form drawn from the demands of working life. In 2016, charrería was inscribed in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
Evolving from the traditions brought from Spain in the 16th century, the first charreadas were ranch work competitions between haciendas. The modern Charreada developed after the Mexican Revolution when charro traditions were disappearing. The competing charros often came from families with a tradition of Charreria, and teams today are often made up from extended families who have been performing for up to five generations.
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The charreada consists of nine events for men plus one for women, all of which involve horses, cattle or both.
The participants in the charreada wear traditional charro clothing, including a closely fitted suit, chaps, boots, and a wide brim sombrero. The body-fitting suit of the charro, while decorative, is also practical; it fits closely to insure there is no flapping cloth to be caught by the horns of steers. The botinas, or little boots, prevent feet from slipping through the stirrups. Spurs are worn on the botinas.
Source UNESCO
