Friday night at the Casa will feature songs, “people talking about their thoughts and feelings for the family of the Earth,” said Espinosa.The next day at Veterans Park there will be the traditional dances by groups from throughout the United States.According to a letter sent to the city by Dina U. Ontiveras, “Danza Azteca Tonantzin has committed itself for the past 17 years to providing workshops, classes and presentations to community groups, events and organizations,” free of charge. “We would like to be known as an integral part of Santa Paula.”Ontiveras wrote that the Sacred Mother Earth event “will also help our community and tourism,” as Tonantzin participants will be staying at local hotels for the event, which is “alcohol and drug free and provides a healthy activity for families at no cost while being rooted in tradition and culture.”In case of rain on the Saturday event, it will be relocated to the Multi-Purpose Room behind the Community Center. The council agreed to provide portable toilets, a sink, tables and chairs for the event.
Fiesta de Tonantzin: City co-sponsoring Sacred Mother Earth ceremony
December 01, 2004
Santa Paula News
A ritual rooted in tradition and culture – Fiesta de Tonantzin, the Sacred Mother Earth Ceremony – will be held December 10 and 11 in Santa Paula at two locations after the City Council agreed to co-sponsor the event.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesA ritual rooted in tradition and culture – Fiesta de Tonantzin, the Sacred Mother Earth Ceremony – will be held December 10 and 11 in Santa Paula at two locations after the City Council agreed to co-sponsor the event. Luzma Espinosa, of famed dance troupe Danza Azteca Tonantzin, had requested that the city co-sponsor the event, the first to be held in Santa Paula recognizing Mother Earth.“We have been inviting groups from as far away as Sacramento and Mexico,” Espinosa told the council at the November 15 meeting. “We want people to recognize our beautiful community of Santa Paula,” through the event honoring Mother Earth and healing.Espinosa noted that the event is a “community effort” that includes Friday Nite Live and Santa Paula Union High School students, “working with us to make this a community event, not just a ceremony, but a real community event where we can all come together.”The fiesta will be held on Friday, December 10 at Casa del Mexicano starting at 8 p.m., and then on Saturday at Veterans Memorial Park from 8 a.m. to noon. The event will bring together traditional Mexican dancers from throughout the country – including Minneapolis, Chicago and several areas in California – Chumash elders and others.
