July 27, 2004 :: No. 17
Assistant Professor Studies Meaning
of August’s ‘La Bajada’
Among Salvadorans in Los Angeles
Southern California and, particularly, Los
Angeles are home to an ever-growing population of Salvadoran immigrants.
While most are happy to be in America, there is still a longing
for their country and the loved ones they left behind.
“For Salvadorans — many who are here because
of political turmoil and unrest in their native country, -celebrating
traditions from El Salvador means a great deal,” said Jeanette
Reedy Solano, assistant professor of comparative religion at Cal
State Fullerton.
“Today, almost one-fifth of Salvadorans live
outside El Salvador — most in America — and of those,
58 percent live in Los Angeles County.”
Solano studies how religion is incorporated into the
cultural lives of Latin Americans. Her interest began when she was
introduced to the concepts of liberation theology while pursuing
her doctoral studies at the University of Chicago’s Divinity
School. For the past three years, she has been working on a film,
“Transnational Savior,” that traces the development
of the La Bajada festival in Los Angeles, the creation of Salvadoran
American National Association (S.A.N.A.) and the ritual itself.
The film will screen at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug.
11, at the Cathedral Center of St. Paul, 840 Echo Park in Los Angeles.
“For people from countries where there is a
great deal of political unrest, religion and politics often go hand-in-hand,”
she explained, “and particularly in countries such as El Salvador
— where martyrs are frequently religious figures, such as
Oscar Romero or the Maryknoll nuns who were killed by members of
the militia — people have great reverence for religious traditions.
This is based not only on great faith but because the people believe
that Jesus and the saints understand their suffering.”
Not only do Salvadorans revere their patron saint,
El Divino Salvador, many who arrived in this country many years
ago are concerned that their children do not understand or appreciate
their heritage and traditions.
For that reason, when S.A.N.A. commissioned an exact
model of El Divino Salvador to be brought to Los Angeles, there
was cause for great celebration among the local Salvadoran community.
(The original is housed in the national cathedral in San Salvador.)
“Each year on Aug. 6, in El Salvador, they celebrate
‘La Bajada,’” said Solano. “It’s almost
on the same level as Christmas. The holiday features the statue
of El Divino Salvador, dressed in purple robes, being lowered into
a globe. On the globe itself, no borders are indicated — only
continents.
After a few minutes El Salvador re-emerges —
this time dressed in white to represent the transfiguration. As
the statue emerges, the crowd cries out, ‘Viva El Salvador!’
which has two meanings — praise for both the savior and for
their country of origin.”
Solano became interested in the La Bajada ceremony
as an offshoot of her research on Latino popular religion, including
devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe (the patron saint of Mexico) and
other Latino religious traditions.
“To see the La Bajada ceremony attract more
attention each year is quite gratifying,” she said. “I
see how traditions change as they move across the border and how
they affect the lives of those immigrants who live here. The aura
of meaning for most Salvadorans is one of struggle, migration and
rootlessness.”
After the statue of El Divino Salvador was made, it
became a pilgrim too — traversing the same path that thousands
of Salvadoran immigrants took in search of peace and a better life.
As it traveled through El Salvador in the back of a red pickup truck,
residents gathered to touch the image, hopeful that their loved
ones in America would be able to do the same.
“The statue became a symbol of love and hope
between family members and loved ones, despite the fact that they
are separated by thousands of miles,” Solano said. “When
the statue arrived at Dolores Mission in Boyle Heights — a
thoroughly Mexican area — it was greeted by mariachis and
a crowd of 2,000. Each year, the daylong religious/cultural celebration
grows. For instance, over 20,000 people attended last summer’s
La Bajada ceremony, the fifth annual celebration in Los Angeles.
“The symbol of El Divino Salvador is especially
powerful for displaced Salvadorans, migrants and those whose families
are split between two countries,” Solano said. “To have
the opportunity to study and celebrate with these brave people is
truly a privilege.”
Additional information about the premiere of “Transnational
Savior” is available at (213) 385-7262. The cost for the evening
is $25 and includes viewing of the documentary, a reception with
the brothers of Monsignor Oscar Romero and native Salvadoran food.
Media Contacts: |
Jeanette Solano at 657-278-7554
or jsolano@fullerton.edu
Valerie Orleans, Public Affairs, at 657-278-4540
or vorleans@fullerton.edu |
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