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Charro is a Mexican term that has been used historically to describe the horseman from the countryside, the ranchero, who lived and worked in the haciendas and performed all his tasks on horseback, working mainly as vaqueros and caporales, among other jobs. They were renowned for their superb Equestrianism, their skill in handling the lasso, and for their unique costume designed specially for horseback riding. Today, this name is given to someone who practices charreada (similar to a rodeo), considered the national sport of Mexico, which maintained traditional rules and regulations in effect from colonial times up to the Mexican Revolution.
The word was first documented in Spanish language in 1627 in the book Vocabulario de refranes y frases proverbiales by Gonzalo Correas, based on the texts of Hernán Núñez. Here it also had a derogatory connotation, synonymous with "fool", "stupid", "foolish", or "imbecile". More than a hundred years later, in 1729, the word would be included in the first dictionary edited and published by the Real Academia Española (RAE), the Diccionario de Autoridades, where it would be defined as a derogatory adjective used to refer to people from the countryside, villages, or rural areas, synonymous with yokel and "rustic":
In the first edition of the RAE dictionary published in 1780, that definition was maintained, defining the word as: "the rough and rustic person, as villagers tend to be"; but they would add a second meaning for the first time: "adjective that is applied to some things that are too laden with decoration and in bad taste". Thus, the word "charro" was used in the 18th century as an insult or derogatory nickname for country folk, who are considered coarse, rude, and rustic; and for things that overly decorated and in bad taste; synonymous with the English language words: "hick", "bumpkin", "yokel", "boor", "garish", "gaudy", "tasteless" and "ridiculous".
In 1745, the Basque Jesuits, Manuel Larramendi, argued the word was of Basque language origin and it meant, "vile and despicable thing." He wrote that country people and villagers were called that word out of contempt.
The historian and Philosophy Antonio de Capmany y Montpalau, argued that the origin of the word was Arabic and that it originally meant, "bad of moral malice and of customs," passing on to the Spanish to mean "artistic malice." Thus something "charro" is the same as something gaudy and tasteless.
In Mexico, the word has been documented since the late 18th century, originally used as a derogatory term to refer to the Rancheros, the horsemen that inhabited the countryside and haciendas, who carried out all their tasks on horseback; as country people, they were perceived as ignorant, crude and unsophisticated. Over time, the word charro evolved in Mexico until it was redefined, going from a derogatory adjective to a complimentary noun, synonymous with Ranchero, skilled vaquero and superb horseman. In 1850, the Spanish historian and writer Niceto de Zamacois, based in Mexico, defined what Charro meant in Mexico:
Over time, landowners and their employees began to adapt the cowboy style to the Mexican terrain and climate, evolving away from the Spanish style of cattle raising. This process began with those living in the Mexican Plateau and later spread to the rest of the country. After the Mexican War of Independence horse riding grew in popularity. Many riders of mixed race became mounted mercenaries, messengers and plantation workers. Originally known as Chinacos, these horsemen later became the modern "vaqueros". Wealthy plantation owners would often acquire decorated versions of the distinctive Charro clothing and horse harnesses to display status in the community. Poor riders would equip their horses with harnesses made from agave or would border their saddles with chamois skin.
After independence was achieved in 1821, political disorder made establishing law and order difficult in much of Mexico. Large bands of bandits plagued the early 19th century due to the lack of legitimate methods for social mobility. One of the most notable gangs were called "the silver ones" or the "plateados." These thieves dressed like traditional wealthy charros, adorning their clothing and saddles with silver, channeling the image of elite horseman. The bandit gangs would disobey or buy out government, establishing their own profit and rules.
Towards the mid 19th century, President Juárez established the "rurales," or mounted rural police, to crack down on gangs and enforce national law across Mexico. These rurales helped to establish the charro image of manhood, strength, and nationhood.
During the Second Mexican Empire, Maximilian I of Mexico reigned as emperor and enjoyed wearing a charro suit as the national costume to ingratiate himself with his subjects. He was an avid and skilled horseman and impressed the local charros. Emperor Maximilian himself designed the elegant all black charro traje, or costume, marking it as acceptable attire for formal occasions. Charros and mariachi ensembles still use this attire in modern days.Sands, K. M. (1993). Charrería Mexicana: An Equestrian Folk Tradition. United States: University of Arizona Press. Pg.59
Charros were quickly seen as national heroes as Mexican politicians in the late 19th century. They pushed for the romanticized charro lifestyle and image as an attempt to unite the nation after conservative and liberal clashes.
The most notable example of 'charrería' is General Emiliano Zapata, known before the revolution as a skilled horseback rider and horse tamer.
Although it is said that charros originated in Jalisco, Mexico, it was not until the 1930s, as rural people began moving towards the cities, that charrería became a formal sport with rules. During this time, paintings of charros also became popular.
During World War II, an army of 150,000 charros was created, the "Legión de Guerrilleros Mexicanos", in anticipation of an eventual attack from German forces. It was led by Antolin Jimenez Gamas, president of the National Association of Charros, a former soldier of Pancho Villa during the Mexican Revolution who climbed the ranks to Lieutenant Colonel in the Personal Guard of Villa's Dorados.
Some decades ago, charros in Mexico were permitted to carry guns. In conformity with current law, the charro must be fully suited and be a fully pledged member of Mexico's Federación Mexicana de Charrería.]
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