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Pancho Claus
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[[ File:Pancho Claus 2.jpg | thumb | upright | Richard Reyes, Houston's Pancho Claus, seen at his Christmas 2009 parade ]]
'''Pancho Claus''' is a [[Hispanic]] version of [[Santa Claus]] popular in parts of the United States, particularly [[Texas]].<ref name=usatoday></ref> Pancho Claus is sometimes referred to as a "Tex-Mex" version of Santa.<ref name=usatoday/><ref name=abc13/> Growing out of the Hispanic civil rights movement of the 1970s,<ref name=usatoday/> the Pancho Claus tradition incorporates a strong element of charity, with gift-giving and events run for the benefit of disadvantaged children.
== History and tradition ==
Academic Lorenzo Cano, a Mexican-American studies scholar at the University of Houston, believes that Pancho Claus was originally conceived "north of the border"<ref name=usatoday/> and arose from a desire of Mexican Americans to "build a place and a space for themselves"<ref name=usatoday/> in the 1970s. It coincided with the growing interest in other events celebrating Hispanic culture, such as [[Cinco de Mayo]] and [[Mexican Independence Day]].<ref name=usatoday/>
According to the tradition, Pancho Claus hails from the South rather than the North Pole, and is sometimes described as Santa's southern "cousin". Pancho Claus differs from Santa Claus principally by attire, wearing outfits commonly associated with Hispanic culture such as a [[sombrero]] and [[poncho]] or [[serape]], and sometimes favoring a black or salt-and-pepper beard rather than the white beard of Santa.<ref name=usatoday/> Instead of [[reindeer]] pulling his sled, Pancho's draft animals are often portrayed as donkeys.<ref name=usatoday/> In West Texas, Pancho Claus is sometimes referred to as '''Pancho Clos'''.<ref name=usatoday/>
=== Practice ===
Pancho Claus is strongly associated with charity for disadvantaged children. In [[Lubbock, Texas]], where the tradition has been maintained since 1971, Pancho visits schools, churches and supermarkets, the main event being a large party held annually at Roger's Park the Sunday before Christmas, where food and gifts are distributed free to children. Lubbock's resident Pancho is 71-year old Julian Perez, who has played the role for 30 years. In [[San Antonio, Texas|San Antonio]], the role is played by Rudy Martinez, who visits schools and churches and distributes gifts and "turkeys with all the trimmings"<ref name=usatoday/> to 50 disadvantaged families.<ref name=usatoday/>
One of the most celebrated Panchos is Richard Reyes, who has maintained the tradition in [[Houston, Texas]] since 1981. Reyes, who wears an atypical outfit for the role consisting of a red [[zoot suit]] and [[fedora]], has raised as much as $40,000 annually from corporate sponsors in support of his activities.<ref name=usatoday/> Reyes and his "army"<ref name=abc13></ref> of volunteers hold a Christmas Eve party for some of the most disadvantaged children of the city, giving them each a free meal and seven presents.<ref name=abcnews></ref> On Christmas morning, Reyes and his team distribute an estimated 10,000 gifts to disadvantaged children during a procession that includes "a parade of low-rider cars" and other vehicles.<ref name=abc13/><ref name=abcnews/> Reyes' work does not end at Christmas however; through the rest of the year he runs programs to assist teenagers in detention, helping them return to school, or find jobs or even a home.<ref name=abcnews/> In 2018, Reyes was hospitalized with a health condition, but reports that he has recovered well and, after reducing his schedule, expects to participate in the usual festivities this year.<ref name=abcnews/>
== References ==
[[Category:Christmas traditions]]
'''Pancho Claus''' is a [[Hispanic]] version of [[Santa Claus]] popular in parts of the United States, particularly [[Texas]].<ref name=usatoday></ref> Pancho Claus is sometimes referred to as a "Tex-Mex" version of Santa.<ref name=usatoday/><ref name=abc13/> Growing out of the Hispanic civil rights movement of the 1970s,<ref name=usatoday/> the Pancho Claus tradition incorporates a strong element of charity, with gift-giving and events run for the benefit of disadvantaged children.
== History and tradition ==
Academic Lorenzo Cano, a Mexican-American studies scholar at the University of Houston, believes that Pancho Claus was originally conceived "north of the border"<ref name=usatoday/> and arose from a desire of Mexican Americans to "build a place and a space for themselves"<ref name=usatoday/> in the 1970s. It coincided with the growing interest in other events celebrating Hispanic culture, such as [[Cinco de Mayo]] and [[Mexican Independence Day]].<ref name=usatoday/>
According to the tradition, Pancho Claus hails from the South rather than the North Pole, and is sometimes described as Santa's southern "cousin". Pancho Claus differs from Santa Claus principally by attire, wearing outfits commonly associated with Hispanic culture such as a [[sombrero]] and [[poncho]] or [[serape]], and sometimes favoring a black or salt-and-pepper beard rather than the white beard of Santa.<ref name=usatoday/> Instead of [[reindeer]] pulling his sled, Pancho's draft animals are often portrayed as donkeys.<ref name=usatoday/> In West Texas, Pancho Claus is sometimes referred to as '''Pancho Clos'''.<ref name=usatoday/>
=== Practice ===
Pancho Claus is strongly associated with charity for disadvantaged children. In [[Lubbock, Texas]], where the tradition has been maintained since 1971, Pancho visits schools, churches and supermarkets, the main event being a large party held annually at Roger's Park the Sunday before Christmas, where food and gifts are distributed free to children. Lubbock's resident Pancho is 71-year old Julian Perez, who has played the role for 30 years. In [[San Antonio, Texas|San Antonio]], the role is played by Rudy Martinez, who visits schools and churches and distributes gifts and "turkeys with all the trimmings"<ref name=usatoday/> to 50 disadvantaged families.<ref name=usatoday/>
One of the most celebrated Panchos is Richard Reyes, who has maintained the tradition in [[Houston, Texas]] since 1981. Reyes, who wears an atypical outfit for the role consisting of a red [[zoot suit]] and [[fedora]], has raised as much as $40,000 annually from corporate sponsors in support of his activities.<ref name=usatoday/> Reyes and his "army"<ref name=abc13></ref> of volunteers hold a Christmas Eve party for some of the most disadvantaged children of the city, giving them each a free meal and seven presents.<ref name=abcnews></ref> On Christmas morning, Reyes and his team distribute an estimated 10,000 gifts to disadvantaged children during a procession that includes "a parade of low-rider cars" and other vehicles.<ref name=abc13/><ref name=abcnews/> Reyes' work does not end at Christmas however; through the rest of the year he runs programs to assist teenagers in detention, helping them return to school, or find jobs or even a home.<ref name=abcnews/> In 2018, Reyes was hospitalized with a health condition, but reports that he has recovered well and, after reducing his schedule, expects to participate in the usual festivities this year.<ref name=abcnews/>
== References ==
[[Category:Christmas traditions]]
December 23, 2018 at 01:37PM
