The Story of the Huevos Rancheros Gala
by Santiago Garcia and Manuel Castillo
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 highway 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.
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 highway 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 Huevos Rancheros Gala.
