Culture

SAN GIL'S FESTIVALS AND MUSIC

San Gil is known as having much musical talent and colombian rythm interpreters. Some of the most recognized representatives are:

LUIS EDUARDO ARENAS

He was born in Curiti. Since his early chilhood moved to San Gil where he was raised and died. Luis Eduardo was blind since his birth. He was a composer and a great maestro playing string instruments, specially, with good abilities to play the guitar and the bandola. He was a teacher of big musicians. He received the award of the mayorality of San Gil within the first festival of Colombian, Andean and religious Music. 

JOSE ANTONIO PEREIRA ARENAS

He was a composer and singer from San Gil. José Antonio was born in 1926 and died in 1997. There is a monument with his name in the Gallineral park in his honor. Recognized because of some songs like:

• Que lindos son tus ojos
• Balsa de troncos
• Recordando a mi tierra
• Ciudad San Gil  

He was also recognized by the festival of Colombian, Andean and religious Music. José Antonio was also a recognized sculptor, his most outstanding works are altars for churches, imagens of virgins, mausoleums, among others. 

IMPRONTUS GROUP

Taken form: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXbdDD8XdYM&noredirect=1

It is a vocal-instrumental group formed in 1986. They have won the award "Mono Nuñez" three times. It is formed by a group of musicians, some of them are sangileños. They have been the winners of the "festival of bambuco" in Neiva in 1994, first place in the festival "Pipintá de Oro" in Aguadas in 1990, Contest from the Universidad Pedagógica Nacional in 1985, among others. They are the authors of four records: 'San Gil 300 años', 'Impromtus Nueva Música Colombiana', 'Impromtus', and 'Cuando Canta el Sentimiento'.    

Taken from: http://eyesoncolombia.wordpress.com/2009/12/18/more-of-maria-mulata-documentary-music/

MARIA MULATA

Her real name is Diana Hernandez, she was born in San Gil and studied in "El Principito" school, today Santa Cruz de la Nueva Baeza school, in her first years; she sings “bambucos” and now she is also recognized nationally and internationally. Maria Mulata was awarded with the 'Gaviota de Plata' in the Festival Viña del Mar in 2007. She has four records: 'Intinerario de tambores', 'Crónicas del caribe', 'Los vestidos de la cumbia', and 'De cantos y vuelos'. She was nominated to The grammy awards in the category 'Mejor Album Floklorico' with her record 'De cantos y vuelos'. 
  

200 DE CILANTRO

Taken from: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vXpP2PioSHc/maxresdefault.jpg

It is formed by three young musicians between 14 and 15 years who were born in San Gil. They are prt of the "Escuela de Cuerdas Tipicas del Instituto de Cultura y Turismo de San Gil" directed by Diego Alejandro Otero Villalba.
Despite it is a short-term musical group, they have been awarded with: the second place in XII festival regional de la canción “José A. Morales” celebrated in Socorro, 2009; second place in the Festiva Nacional de música colombiana “Cacique Tundama” in Duitama, 2009 and the first place in the IX festival nacional del Tiple “Pedro Nel Martínez” in Charalá, 2009.

They are:

• Carlos Augusto Vasquez Soto . TIPLE MELODICO
• Juan Nicolas Marquez Pinzon. TIPLE ARMONICO
• Daniel Gonzales . GUITARRA

GERARDO PICO AVELLANEDA 

Taken from: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/

He was born on July 9, 1965 in Mogotes-Santander. He grew up surrounded by the music. In his own neigborhooud was known as a guitar player. He participated in the centext "La Mejor Voz Romántica" singing the song "Fantasias" by Chayane. He was the winner of it by 1990.

LOS HERMANOS MONROY

Taken from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57xAFpMV_cA

It is a group made up of tho brothers, Jorge and Wilson, who became famous because of their funny music inspired by the Colombian music. For more information: http://www.loshermanosmonroy.com/posteroficial.html

MUSIC EVENTS

GUANE DE ORO is the most prestigious event of Carranguera Music, a life-typical-event lyrics regional kind of music, in other words Carranga melodies represent not only the happiness of the San Gileños but also contain detailed elements of their daily routine in its lyrics.This event takes place in San Gil the first week of each December. Currently, inscriptions are opened to the professional category until November 15th. The ones who want to know about this kind of music, this event is recommended. 

For more information: http://www.vanguardia.com/santander/guanenta/134895-san-gil-de-fiesta-con-la-carranga-del-guane-de-oro

Taken from: www.vanguardia.com

FESTIVAL DE MUSICA ANDINA COLOMBIANA Y  SACRA: As its name suggests, music is the core of this festival. Music from los Andes region, where   instruments like the guitar, the tiple and the requinto are the starring and Sacra music -Sacred music- which is the kind of music related to catholic mass celebration purposes several years ago. It’s just an amusing musical time traveling. This festival is hold during the Holy Week, it is celebrated in the Libertad Park in San Gil. Important representatives of the Colombian music take part in it. 
For more information: http://www.vanguardia.com/santander/guanenta/149920-todo-listo-para-festival-regional-de-musica-colombiana-y-sacra 

PABLO VI AND CARRNCIOS FESTIVAL: This festival is one of the most vivid in San Gil. A colorful parade of ‘Carrancios’ (big rag dolls which represent the year that is about to finish in the calendar). Regional music, joy and fireworks are the elements you can find during the celebrations that took place in December in Pablo VI neighborhood at the north of the town.

Taken from: http://palabraspesadas-bcr.blogspot.com/2010_12_01_archive.html

GALLINERAL PARK – CULTURAL DAYS: During these days at Parque El Galineral, regional artists perform several kind of activities like dancing, singing, legends play and games, just to name a few. Here you will enjoy both nature and culture all at once. This activities are hold on a once-a-month bases.

FESTIVAL DE MUSICA DE CUERDA is a recently lunched festival hold every year in December.The only thing that is required is knowing how to play a string instrument. 

The following song is an example of the music in San Gil:

SI PASAS POR SAN GIL 

IF YOU PASS BY SAN GIL 
(Traslated by students from 8/9 High Intermediate level) 

If you pass by San Gil, my friend,

by the hard land of Santander,

Hence, a way to stop

admire the Fonce in their swift passing.

And will cross the bridge will not forget

leading to the road,

Gallineral park.

And you crossed the bridge I don't forget

leading to the road,

Gallineral park.

Its ornate gigantic ceiba,

with magnificent moss festoons,

trembling kiss the river,

or copied crystal lakes.

Strolling between Avenues,

twisted forming coops,

heard the clarinet his tear,

Santanderean guabinas distant voices singing.

You will visit the hill of the cross,

a beautiful island and blue well,

and take my memories.

When going through the cobblestone streets,

can admire its colonial churches,

Spanish classic balconies,

portals that invite love.

At night they rode wandering,

spirits of nobles and squires,

hear the cry of rebellion

that the land shook,

cry of the commoners.

The fire of Gallant and Alcantuz

in fierce flame spread

to the southern lands.

Festival

Every year from November 1st to 5th, San Gil celebrates it's annual "Fiestas de San Gil". The fairs and festivals take place. The traditional event in this type of fairs are equine, canine, and livestock exhibitions. It includes the participation of popular genre artists. In the fairs, it is carried out not only the traditional election of a queen, but also the election of the senior citizen queen. 

By the same time, it is performed the traditional fairs with crafts made by artisan's from Santander. In that fair, they sell bracelets, collars, clothes and accessories made of fique, decorations, among other things of handicrafts. It had begun as a holiday craft fair. But now it is a permanent fair. In the large hall of San Gil's House of Culture, Santanderian artisans, mostly women, decorate their stalls and tables with their work.

To shade yourself during an outing, take along a hat made of palm or banana leaf. Wear your feet with fique sandals or buy napkin holders, placemats or other items made of fique. Of course, there's also jewelry.

It usually starts with the  special wooden horses parade, which goes from the church La Inmaculada to the principal park 'La Libertad', and the traditional serenade to San Gil. About 6.00 pm, a mass starts at the Cathedral and the most recognized bands from San Gil play.  In these acts, most of the time, Pedro Nel Martinez, Tocayo Vargas and many other artists are the principal show.

In San Gil, it is also celebrated the festival of "La Virgen Del Carmen". The worshiped virgin protects the drivers on the ways.

TALES IN SAN GIL

THE INDIAN'S CAVE

Made by Isabella Almonacid 3°

In the way from San Gil to Mogotes, you can find a  huge cave called “CUEVA DEL INDIO”. In the past probably it was a native cemetery where people found bones, cups, and dishes of mud and pieces made in gold.

The legend says that an avaricious man tried to steal the gold and the Indians killed him. Sometimes, the people can see a short, thin man wearing elegantly in the cave.

THE WHINER

Made by Alejandro San Juan 4°

The whiner is a legend that tells the story of a woman who is suffering and cries the death of her children. Her wepping and appearance frigthens people who hear or see her.
  

There are many stories of people who tell that they have seen her, for example: 
Mrs Leonor De Gonzales says that her brother (Carlos)  when he was a child often went to a farm near to San Gil. It was called " La Palmita "; that farm was of  their uncles .

In a dark night, there was a party in San Gil and their uncles went to that party so, Carlos  was alone in  the farm with the administrator. But Carlos wanted to go to San Gil and the butler said to him that it was too dark and dangerous.  He also told Carlos that in the coffee plantation appeared the whiner.

But Carlos didn't believe in the administrator and he went with the butler . When they were near the coffee plantation they heard a scream and the butler took a machete and he said to Carlos: If the whiner is near the machete will sound  far  and if not the machete will sound near. Fortunately, the machete sounded near so they were safe.

Then, the butler told Carlos that the whiner was a woman with a lot of hair and the reason why she cried was because she killed her son and was paying her punishment.

THE CRAZY CAR 

Mr. Wilson Massey says that when he was a child, his mom complained about him because

Made by Sofia Berardinlli 4°

he went out to the street until midnight and she said that if he saw the crazy car, he would die. His mom told him a story that two men, who stayed drinking beer and enjoying in the nights in Holly week, when suddenly they saw the crazy car and then they died. The story says that people who see the crazy car in Holly week, all Thursdays and Fridays after 11 pm, would die. 

THE BEEKEEPER 

Made by Bryanna Ximena Garcia 3°

A man was fishing, in the Fonce river near to San Gil, suddenly he heard a strange voice saying:  What are you doing here, man? The fisher was scared  and he turned toward the place where the voice came. He saw a man who was wearing a big hat and black and dirty clothes.

Everything was quiet, the strange man in black told him  that he must not be near the river  because  in that place  a beekeeper appears. Intriged, the fisher asked who was the beekeeper? The man in black said that he would tell him all the  story if they go to another place. Being in another place, he began to tell the fisher:

Many years ago,  a family lived near from here and it was a poor family. The parents had 3 children, one of them was rebellious, disobedient and thief. He went to caves, mountains searching bee's honey. His parents advised him, but he didn't pay attention.

In the holly week, specifically on Friday, he went to a place near from his house and began stealing the honey, the bees attacked him and he could not hide or escape, so he fell down and died. The legend tells that, since then, the beekeeper appears in this place. Then, the fisher turned toward the place where he was fishing and saw the beekeeper. He never came back to that place.

LA CANDILEJA

Made by Brianna Marcela Ranalli 3°

This specter sometimes takes the form of and bizarre female in fire and sometimes just the form of a reddish burning ball. It moves its three big torches as they were fire tentacles-some people say she has chains which sound like a yell from hell-. She is always chasing for drunk people at late night in San Gil’s streets, irresponsible parents and negligent families in the country. Grandparents has told this legend during decades as a moral lesson for those who do not behave. 

EL GUANDO

Made by Jose Pablo Rincon 4°

This specter is a dead body wrapped in white sheets, it is carried in the shoulders of four people who apparently are its minions. This specter appears at the edge of old roads, and the banks of silent rivers or deep in the woods. Its intention is to kill people to make them its companions in its eternal funeral. 

LA MUELONA

Laura Garcia 2°

The legend describes a beautiful long-haired woman with big and sharp teeth which will easily cut your neck as it was a carrot. Her beauty is the element for attraction but her teeth and sharp crying will mean the death for the people she met. Eating people up is her goal, so, you better run away when you meet a woman like this at midnight in the middle of San Gil’s streets. 

LOS DUENDES

Made by Valentina Santos 3°

These mischievous spirits are uncharged to torment all-age people, especially female teenagers. Sometimes they just switch your stuff from the place you usually leave it to a different and hide one, making your day really unpleasant. Sometimes they are really aggressive, they spend their whole time making your life hard, not allowing you to sleep at night due to all frightening noises the do, and they also put snares for you in the road you are walking. 

LA PIEDRA DEL PATO

Made by Zara Manuela Fuentes 4°

Every Holy Friday two beautiful golden ducks, alighted on a huge rock on Fonce River to drink water.

A hunter seeked after the ducks' golden feathers for years, and one of many Holy Fridays, he bet on the outskirts of the river stone with a shotgun ready to shot and remove golden feathers. But he missed the first shot and the noble creatures alerted by the sound, promptly jumped into the water and took haven under the huge stone, never to get out from it. It is said that every Holy Friday, ducks, in revenge for the ambitious-hearted hunter, claim the lives of an equally polluted soul, that bathes in the waters on the Fonce river, people will find his misfortune under a suction vortex of the mysterious stone duck.

 IDIOMS

1. Cuando la vaina se pone arrecha es mejor tratar de arreglarla: When things get tough is better to try to fix them. 
2. Más vale pájaro en mano que ciento volando: Better an egg today, then a hen tomorrow.
3. Más vale prevenir que curar: Better safe than sorry.
4. A buen entendedor, pocas palabras bastan: Brevity is the soul of wit.
5. Del dicho al hecho hay un gran trecho: Actions speak louder than words.
6. Por la noche todos los gatos son pardos: Everything looks the same in the dark
7. Todos los caminos conducen a Roma: All roads lead to Rome.
8. No todo lo que brilla es oro: All that glitters is not gold.
9.  Ojo por ojo y diente por diente: An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
10. Las apariencias engañan: Never judge a book by its cover.
11. Perro que ladra no muerde: Barking dogs never bite.
12. Con hambre no hay mal pan: Beggars can't be choosers.

    

    Picture from the photographic comitee
13. Más vale tarde que nunca: Better late than never.
14. Más vale pervenir que curar: Better safe than sorry.
15.  Más vale malo conocido que bueno por conocer: Better the devil you know than the devil you don't know.
16. De tal palo, tal astilla: Chip off the old block.
17. El sentido común es el menos común de los sentidos: Common sense is the least common of senses.
18. El que mucho abarca, poco aprieta: Don't bite more than you can chew.
19. No le muerdas la mano a quien te da de comer: Don't bite the hand that feeds you.
20. No cantes victoria antes de tiempo. / No montes el caballo antes de ensillarlo: Don't count your chickens before they are hatched.
21. A caballo regalado no le mires los dientes: Don't look a gift-horse in the mouth.
22. No te lo juegues todo a una sola carta: Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
23. A quien madruga, Dios lo ayuda: The early birth catches the warm.
24. No hay mal que por bien no venga: Every cloud has a silver lining.
25. La experiencia es la madre de la ciencia: Experience is the mother of knowledge. 
26. El que se fue a Sevilla, perdió su silla: Finders, keepers; losers, weepers.
27. Dios aprieta pero no ahoga: God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb.
28. Algo es algo, peor es nada: Half a loaf is better than none. 
29. Soldado que huye, sirve para otra guerra. /Quien en tiempo huye, en tiempo acude: He that fights and runs away, lives to fight another day.
30. Quien ríe último ríe mejor: He who laughs last, laughs best.
31. Dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres: Hunt with cats and you catch only rats.
32. Si cometes un error, debes asumir las consecuencias: If you have made your bed, now lie in it.
33. De perdidos, al río: In for a penny, in for a pound.
34. Las desgracias nunca vienen solas: It never rains, but it pours.
35. A río revuelto, ganancia de pescadores: It's good fishing in troubled waters.
36. Nunca es tarde para aprender: It's never too late to learn.
37. A lo hecho, pecho. / No hay que llorar sobre la leche derramada: It's no good crying over spilt milk.
38. Es la gota que rebosó la copa: It's the last straw that breaks the camel's back.
39. Lo pasado, pisado. / Borrón y cuenta nueva:  to wipe the slate clean.
40. Preocúpate del futuro cuando llegue: Let's cross that bridge when we come to it.
41. Muchas manos hacen el trabajo ligero: Many hands make light work.
42. El dinero es el camino de la perdición: Money is the root of all evil.
43. Vísteme despacio que tengo prisa: More haste, less speed.
44. No te hagas problema hasta que los problemas te angustien: Never trouble trouble till trouble troubles you.
45. El que quiere celeste, que le cueste: No pain, no gain.
46. La falta de noticias es una buena noticia: No news is good news.
47. Quien no arriesga, no gana. / Quien no se arriesga, no cruza la mar: Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
48. Sobre gustos no hay nada escrito. / Para gustos, los colores: One man's meat is another man's poison.
49. Gato escaldado, del agua fría huye: Once bitten, twice shy.
50. No hagas a los demás lo que no quieres que te hagan a ti: People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
51. Lo cortés no quita lo valiente: Politeness costs nothing.
52. Roma no se hizo en un día: Rome wasn't built in a day.
53. El silencio es sagrado. / En boca cerrada no entran moscas: Silence is golden.
54. La experiencia es la madre de la sabiduría: Smooth seas do not make skilful sailors.
55. Paso a paso, se recorre un largo camino: Step by step, one goes a long way.
56. Hablando del rey de Roma, por la puerta asoma con su cetro y su corona: Talk of the devil and he's sure to appear.
57. Ahorra la calderilla y tendrás dinero. / Muchos pocos hacen un montón: Take care of the pennies/pence, and the pounds will take care of themselves.
58. De tal palo, tal astilla: Like the father, like the son.
59. La suerte está echada: The die is cast.
60. A quien madruga, Dios lo ayuda: The early bird catches the worm.
    
61. Lo mejor siempre lo tiene el otro: The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
62. En casa de herrero, cuchara de palo: The shoemaker's son goes always barefoot.
63. Entre mano y boca desaparece la sopa. / Del plato a la boca se pierde la sopa: There's many a slip twixt cup and lip.
64. Piensa dos veces antes de actuar: Think twice, act wise.
65. Al pan, pan y al vino, vino: To call a spade, a spade.
66. Errar es humano, perdonar es divino: To err is human; to forgive, divine.
67. Demasiados cocineros estropean el caldo. / Muchas manos en un plato hacen mucho garabato: Too many cooks spoil the broth.
68. Las penas compartidas saben a menos: Two in distress makes sorrow less.
69. En la variedad está el gusto: Variety is the spice of life.
70. ¡El mundo es un pañuelo!: What a small world!
71. Ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente: Out of sight, out of mind.
72. Se cosecha lo que se siembra: You reap what you sow.
73. Donde fueres haz lo que vieres: When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
74. Cuando hay hambre, no hay pan duro: Hunger is the best sauce.
75. Querer es poder: When there's a will, there's a way.
76. Mientras hay vida, hay esperanza: While there's life, there's hope.
77. Cuando el río suena, agua lleva: Where there's smoke, there's fire.
78. Cuando el gato no está, los ratones bailan: While the cat's away, the mice will play.
79. No se puede tener todo en la vida. / No puedes estar en misa y repicando: You can't have your cake and eat it too.
80. No se puede pedir peras al manzano. / Aunque la mona se vista de seda, mona se queda: You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
81. Loro viejo no aprende a hablar: You can't teach an old dog new tricks.
82. Hay que tomar la vida como es. / Hay que estar a las duras y a las maduras: You have to take the rough with the smooth.
83. Hoy por ti, mañana por mí: You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours.

Picture from the photographic comitee