Many of the traditions mentioned throughout this report have survived and are still practiced today usually in some altered fashion. "The sanctity of marriage was more profoundly felt but the social pressure on the couple to persevere despite marital problems was also greater."33

The retention of rituals and traditions serve a moral purpose to restore the significance of customs. Though many traditions have evolved and sometimes changed or disappeared completely, the 'flavor,' significance, and importance have remained within those who practice these rituals. Researching this very interesting topic enlightened me to the history and significance of today's rituals. I have attended several weddings and it seemed like many people 'went through the motions' without really understanding why customs, traditions, and rituals were exercised in those ways. I believe one would appreciate and respect any tradition more if it were understood better. I now attempt to understand social and political events, customs, and people's beliefs and mannerisms with a historical perspective. The actions of our own past and those of our forefathers have and will always mold and affect our actions, beliefs, and customs. I also hope this report may assist young couples in understanding our rich heritage and maybe even attempt to follow and keep these traditions alive. All in all, it was fun. Gracias.

Professor Vicki Ruiz' comments:
"You pulled off a very difficult paper - to relate wedding customs within a historical context. You gave a good sense of the blending of Spanish + Indian traditions. Well-researched and well-conceptualized. Paper represents a good deal of effort. ¡¡Bravo!! You write clearly and with feeling. A"

ENDNOTES

1. Nutini, Hugo G. and Betty Bell. Ritual Kinship: The Structure and Historical Development of the Compadrazgo System in Rural Tlaxcala. Vol. 1. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1980. Pg. 342.

2. Summar, Polly. A Marriage of Old & New: A Traditional Ceremony in El Rito. New Mexico Magazine, Vol. 62 (April 1984), Pg. 62.

3. Vigil, Maurilio E. The Hispanics of New Mexico: Essays on History and Culture. Bristol, Indiana, U.S.A., Wyndham Hall Press, 1985. Pg. 86.

4. Vigil, Pg. 86.

5. Rojas, Alfonso Villa and Robert Redfield. Chan Kom, A Maya Village. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1962. Pg. 368.

6. Vigil, pg. 86.

7. Lewis, Oscar. Life in a Mexican Village: Tepoztlán Restudied. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1963. Pg. 404.

8. Rojas, Pg. 374.

9. Rojas, Pg. 193.

10. Lewis, Oscar. Life in a Mexican Village: Tepoztlán Restudied. Pg. 406.

11. Gutierrez, Ramón A. When Jesus Came, The Corn Mothers Went Away: Marriage, Sexuality, and Power in New Mexico, 1500-1846. Stanford; The Stanford University Press, 1991. Pg. 11.

12. Ibid. Pg. 260.

13. Vigil. Pg. 87.

14. Gutierrez. Pg. 261.

15. Ibid. Pg. 261.

16. Vigil. Pg. 88.

17. Gutierrez. pg. 262.

18. Ibid. Pg. 262.

19. Ibid. Pg. 263.

20. Vigil. Pg. 89.

21. Nutini. Pg. 74.

22. Redfield, Robert. Tepoztlán, A Mexican Village: A Study of Folk Life. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1930. Pg. 141.

23. Nutini. Pg. 342.

24. Gutierrez. Pg. 265.

25. Lewis, Oscar. Life in a Mexican Village: Tepoztlán Restudied. Pg. 407.

26. Ibid. Pg. 407.

27. Redfield. Pg. 407.

28. Collier, Jane Fishburne. Contemporary Latin American Culture. New Orleans: Middle American Research Institute, Tulane University, 1968. Pg. 175.

29. Gutierrez. Pg. 268.

30. Collier. Pg. 177.

31. Gutierrez. Pg. 269.

32. Ibid. Pg. 269.

33. Vigil. Pg. 91.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Collier, Jane Fishburne. Contemporary Latin American Culture. New Orleans: Middle American Research Institute, Tulane University, 1968.

2. Gutierrez, Ramón A. When Jesus Came, The Corn Mothers Went Away: Marriage, Sexuality, and Power in New Mexico, 1500-1846. Stanford; The Stanford University Press, 1991.

3. Lewis, Oscar. Life in a Mexican Village: Tepoztlán Restudied. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1963.

4. Lewis, Oscar. Tepoztlán: Village in Mexico. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc., 1960.

5. Nash, Manning. Handbook of Middle American American Indians. Vol. 6. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1967.

6. Nutini, Hugo G. and Betty Bell. Ritual Kinship: The Structure and Historical Development of the Compadrazgo System in Rural Tlaxcala. Vol. 1. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1980.

7. Redfield, Robert. Tepoztlán, A Mexican Village: A Study of Folk Life. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1930.

8. Rojas, Alfonso Villa and Robert Redfield. Chan Kom, A Maya Village. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1962.

9. Summar, Polly. A Marriage of Old & New: A Traditional Ceremony in El Rito. New Mexico Magazine, Vol. 62 (April 1984), Pg. 60 - 66.

10. Vigil, Maurilio E. The Hispanics of New Mexico: Essays on History and Culture. Bristol, Indiana, U.S.A., Wyndham Hall Press, 1985

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