PostPoems Be Artistic. Be Creative. Be Inspired!

My grandma has an especial way of dressing. That is what you would say if you had never visited Oaxaca. She is from Isthmus of Tehuantepec, a traditional and colorful land, located in the plains of Oaxaca. Every day she dresses the original costume, clothes that are now only use at parties and ceremonial events. Her outfit consists of a simple blouse (loose and square) called "huipil" and a skirt that falls to the ground called "nagua". So, what is unique about the outfit? One thing are the decorations, beautiful and intricately embroidered flowers over the cloth, contras colors on a dark background. The design is not limited by the imagination. The stitches are small, and to complete a design can take months. It makes for costumes, end it highly valued.
 My grandmother is a vain and rather stubborn person. She considers very important to dress appropriately. In her desire for beauty she braids her hair with colorful strips that match her suit. Also, she "bathes", as my mother says, with perfume of gardenias. For this reason her suits always smell like gardenias. She and I have always had conflicting ideas because we are from a different generation. But over anything the major problem is the fact that I never wanted to be part of her traditions. I always refused to wear costumes and participate in the festivities; I never understood her obstinacy and frequent explanations about her culture. I have had trouble accepting that my grandmother always wears the typical outfit, even in the hot weather, when she could be wearing something comfortable. On more than one occasion I found myself asking why she was so persistence and more than one occasion she told me that she only felt comfortable dressed like that.
I guess I didn’t understanding recently when after some time far away home, I come back for my cousin's wedding, a celebration with a lot of tradition. On that day, as if it were the first time I saw them, the vivid colors of the costumes wondered me, dance and music seemed a mesmerizing set. At least, I feel pride and part of that place, a sense that I had never felt before. On that day I understood what it is what made us unique in our world, the importance of preserving our traditions and the realization of my grandmother's unalterable dress.