Huevos Rancheros Gala Legacy

The story of King and Queen Huevo begins and ends with love. As is often the case when two people fall in love and plan a marriage, a great desire arises to explore family roots. This was the case when Consuelo and Nathaniel came together to begin a family. It is unclear where the young couple met. They may have met during Fiesta, at the flea market, or simply walking downtown. We do know that their courtship often took them to a quiet and serene bend of the Riverwalk.
Consuelo’s mother was a pecan factory worker who raised her children
alone in a shotgun shack on Chupaderas street. Nathaniel’s family prospered
under the tutelage of Kelly Air Force Base. Each of the families nurtured
their children into good and hardworking people who understood the value of
education. Consuelo and Nathaniel were married at Our Lady of Guadalupe on a
beautiful spring day.
Not long after their marriage, they resumed asking questions of elder
family members. Their history gathering finally led them to the great
abuelita. Abuelita lived in the small home she had always lived in on the
west side. She was eager to speak of the family history since no one else in
the family had thought to inquire in many years. They made an appointment to
talk.
When the day came, Consuelo and Nathaniel waited patiently for Abuelita
to return from dollar Schlitz night at the Hill Top bingo hall on Hwy. 181.
Abuelita quickly began telling them an ancient story that had been told and
retold for generations. Many years ago, before borders were invented, before
Henry B. was elected, before C-5s offered shade, comfort and security, there
lived a proud people known as the Hueveros, people who celebrated the
egg–the egg as the symbol for all acts of creation, especially artistic
creation.
The source of these eggs was a mysterious and pudgy man the children
called Señor Wiggly, who later went on to grocery store fame.
The Hueveros, a people who lived near what is now Apache Creek, were
known far and wide for their art, their resourcefulness, and the artistic
materials they produced from eggs. They ground eggshells with berries,
plants and other natural substances to create the most vibrant colors of
paint anyone had ever seen. With these colors, they painted murals which
were admired by many. Also with the eggshells, they created a deep black ink
which they used to print their stories and drawings on paper.
The Hueveros were also known for their festive creativity. Each year
the Hueveros held a celebration in honor of the egg and to express their
caring for each other. What made the event so special was the welcoming
spirit of the people, no matter how rich, poor, young or old. The only thing
required was a belief that the arts truly were the source of a healthy and
unified community.
The event itself was, like the people, simple and naturally elegant.
Attendees dressed in their finest eggshell-colored clothing. Cascarones with
yellow and white confetti made the event lively. A feast of huevos rancheros
was served to everyone.
The highlight of the day was when the King and Queen Huevo were
presented. For as long as anyone could remember, a King and Queen Huevo were selected by leaders of the Huevero community. Every year, the community felt it was important to celebrate and recognize individuals who had enriched the
community with their dedicated work for the arts. On the King and Queen’s
heads were remarkable crowns which they wore as they greeted the people or
sat on their thrones. At the end, all those who were there could not wait
until the next year’s celebration.
When abuelita had finished her recounting of the amazing story, there
was complete silence. Consuelo and Nathaniel could not believe what they had
heard. This story was more than they could ever have dreamed. They were both
surprised and proud.
Suddenly, abuelita rose and asked the young couple to help her retrieve
a chest from her attic. They did not question her. On the living room floor
sat the chest which abuelita slowly opened. Out of the chest came two
brilliant crowns, a scroll, drawings of two beautiful thrones, and a copy of
Sonny and the Sunliners first album still sealed in its La Feria shrink
wrap. Abuelita gave the artifacts to Consuelo and Nathaniel and made them
promise that they would keep the story alive. Still speechless, they nodded
their heads.
It was not long after that the young couple made several important
decisions. Among them, was the decision to change their names to Von
Huevo–Nathaniel and Consuelo Von Huevo.
The next decision they made was to entrust the revival of the annual
celebration of the egg to an organization which they felt embodied the
spirit of the original Hueveros. They first approached the Alzafar-Shriners,
but worried that the eggs would be scrambled after constant circling in
their little red cars. They finally selected San Anto Cultural Arts, an
organization which is aware that all citizens of present day San Antonio are
descendants of artistic, visionary people. Thus is born the Huevo Gala.