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Saturday, November 3, 2012

Sepia Saturday 150 ~ Bullfights in Irapuato

Sepia Saturday provides an opportunity for genealogy bloggers to share their family history through photographs.

Today’s Sepia Saturday photo prompt (at bottom of post) shows men in hats playing the Irish sport of "hurling." I don’t have a photo in my collection showing this unique Irish sport.  But I did find these two vintage postcards showing men in hats at a sporting event.

The two vintage postcards I'm sharing with you today are from my Webster Grandparents’ collection. In 1955, Grandpa Debs and Grandma Willis Webster took a trip to Mexico. Why a trip to Mexico? One very important reason was to visit Debs’ sister, Carlota Webster Guerrero, who was living in Mexico City.

While they were in Mexico, my grandparents visited Irapuato, which is a city in the state of Guanajuato. Again comes the question, why? Why visit Irapuato? Well, it turns out my "Traveling Dentist Great-Grandpa Frederick Webster" and his son, Debs Webster, once lived in Irapuato. For those new to my blog, Frederick Webster was my Grandpa Debs’ father. It looks like Grandpa Debs wanted to visit where he had once lived, however briefly, as a child.

The two vintage postcards below show many men in hats. And they show the sport of bullfighting.  And while I've never actually been to a bullfight, I’m quite sure I’m not a fan of this sport. I just don’t like the whole concept of it. But, for some reason my grandparents bought these postcards in 1955. Who knows? Maybe they attended a bullfight.

The interesting thing about this first postcard is that it looks like the bullfighter is a woman.
Plaza Revolucion
Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
Vintage Postcard circa 1955

 Here’s a close-up view of the woman bullfighter.
Plaza Revolucion
Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
Vintage Postcard circa 1955
     

And here’s the other vintage postcard.
Plaza Revolucion
Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
Vintage Postcard circa 1955

 Here’s a close-up view showing lots and lots of men in hats…and a woman with a bonnet too!  Can you spot the bonnet?
Plaza Revolucion
Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
Vintage Postcard circa 1955

To see more posts of men in hats, sporting events, random bonnets...or anything else our super Sepia Saturday participants have written about, just click HERE.
  Sepia Saturday 150 November 3, 2012

Thanks for reading!

 Jana

 Copyright © Jana Last 2012
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41 comments:

  1. AnonymousNovember 3, 2012 at 10:35 AM

    I'd never thought women could be bullfighters, but apparently it was possible. I really don't like this 'sport' and never watched it.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Jana Iverson LastNovember 3, 2012 at 10:41 AM

      Hi Prenter,

      I'm with you on the "sport" of bullfighting. I've never seen it and don't intend to.

      Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  2. Jacqi StevensNovember 3, 2012 at 10:41 AM

    Jana, your title today caught my eye right away! It gave me this small world feeling! My husband's dad spent some time in Irapuato, too, between the time of his WWII service in the Navy in the Pacific, and the beginning of his service in the Air Force after the war. He served as a medical assistant in Irapuato during that hiatus. While I don't have any pictures from him during that time, we've received a couple of his letters home from his time in Irapuato detailing all he saw when there.

    See what I mean? Small world! Wonder if your "traveling dentist" great grandfather ever met up with my father in law...

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Jana Iverson LastNovember 3, 2012 at 10:52 AM

      Hi Jacqi,

      Wow! How interesting! I kind of doubt they ever crossed paths because the timeline I have for my great-grandfather puts him in Irapuato during the 1920s. It really is a small world though isn't it?

      Thanks so much for reading and for your comments! I appreciate it!

      Delete
  3. 21 WitsNovember 3, 2012 at 12:01 PM

    Oh this post was perfect, and the woman bullfighter I truly enjoy most of all. What an excellent photo too!

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    1. Jana Iverson LastNovember 3, 2012 at 12:15 PM

      Hi Karen,

      You're comments are so kind! Thank you so very much! I'm glad you enjoyed this post and the vintage postcards.

      Thanks so much for stopping by!

      Delete
  4. Helen Killeen Bauch McHargueNovember 3, 2012 at 12:21 PM

    Reminds me of this book:
    "The Bullfighter Checks Her Makeup" a collection of essays by Susan Orlean published in 2001 by Random House.

    Who knew there were actual real women bullfighters. Talk about
    trail blazing!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jana Iverson LastNovember 3, 2012 at 1:29 PM

      Hi Helen,

      Hmm, I've never heard of that book. And yes, it was interesting to note that the bullfighter in the first postcard was actually a woman! And this was back in 1955. Like you said, "Who knew?"

      Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  5. Bob ScotneyNovember 3, 2012 at 12:22 PM

    I used to lead training courses in Mexico - usually in Mexico City. I turned down an invite to a bullfight as I was not prepared to see an animal being tormented.
    These are interesting postcards nevertheless showing part of the history of bullfighting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jana Iverson LastNovember 3, 2012 at 1:28 PM

      Hi Bob,

      Wow! So you've been to Mexico. I don't blame you for turning down the invitation to the bullfight. I wouldn't have wanted to go either!

      Thanks so much for stopping by!

      Delete
  6. WendyNovember 3, 2012 at 1:10 PM

    Judging by how jam packed the stands were, the sport was indeed popular. It's a wonder the woman in the bonnet wasn't asked to take off her hat so other people could see!

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    1. Jana Iverson LastNovember 3, 2012 at 1:26 PM

      It does look crowded in those stands doesn't it! Talk about claustrophobia!

      And I was kind of surprised to see a "bonnet" in amongst all those mens hats.

      Thanks so much for stopping by!

      Delete
  7. PeterNovember 3, 2012 at 2:04 PM

    I was in Mexico in I believe 1969. But fortunately I didn't see any bullfighting there, just many very old American cars. In Cataluna, Spain bullfighting is now prohibited.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Jana Iverson LastNovember 3, 2012 at 3:28 PM

      Hi Peter,

      Hmm, I didn't know that bullfighting is now prohibitied in Cataluna, Spain. I'm glad for that!

      Thanks so much for stopping by!

      Delete
  8. KathyNovember 3, 2012 at 2:07 PM

    I can't help but love many of the styles and fashions of the 50s and farther back - like men's hats. And women's hats. I was wondering about the clothing on the horse in the 2nd postcard. Protection or just fashion? Interesting postcards!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Jana Iverson LastNovember 3, 2012 at 3:30 PM

      Hi Kathy,

      I really don't know about what the horse is wearing in the second postcard. But I know what you mean about men's and women's fashions of the past. Wouldn't it be fun to wear hats again?

      Thanks so much for stopping by!

      Delete
  9. Mariann ReganNovember 3, 2012 at 2:36 PM

    What a treasure, to have so many great photos. I believe that I see the large bonnet, and I definitely see the brave and elegant woman bullfighter. Are these people connected to the family who was touring Utah and had come from Brazil? I agree about bullfights: I am like the title character in "Ferdinand the Bull" who would rather sit under the tree and smell the flowers. Either that, or Bugs Bunny in a bullfight, outwitting the bull with no bloodshed.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Jana Iverson LastNovember 3, 2012 at 3:34 PM

      Hi Mariann,

      Thanks so much for stopping by! And I'm with you about being like "Ferdinand the Bull!" I forgot about that. Cute! And Bugs Bunny in a bullfight! Classic!

      These photos are actually vintage postcards that my Grandparents bought while they were in Mexico in 1955. And, you are right, they are the same family who came from Brazil.

      Thanks so much for stopping by! I really appreciate it!

      Delete
  10. PostcardyNovember 3, 2012 at 4:40 PM

    I'm not really in favor of bullfighting, but it would be exciting to watch it sometime.

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    1. Jana Iverson LastNovember 3, 2012 at 4:49 PM

      Hi Postcardy,

      I'm not in favor of it either. But they are interesting postcards.

      Thanks so much for stopping by!

      Delete
  11. Celia LewisNovember 3, 2012 at 7:05 PM

    I think my parents must have thrown out any postcard as 'junque' because we couldn't find any in their boxes of stuff'n treasure. Sigh. I love these postcards however - and think it would make a great story: the woman bullfighter... her relationship with the various arena staff, with macho men... Hmmm, this is sounding interesting!! Thanks for posting, Jana! Very interesting postcards.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Jana Iverson LastNovember 3, 2012 at 7:32 PM

      Hi Celia,

      Perhaps your parents neve collected postcards in the first place. For some reason my grandparents did and saw them as valuable, since they kept so many, including postcards from friends and relatives. I have thought of creating a separate postcard blog but I don't know if I could keep it up along with my genealogy blog. :)

      Thanks so much for stopping by! And for your kind comments!

      Delete
  12. AnonymousNovember 4, 2012 at 4:28 AM

    Nice postcards! I've never been to Mexico, and I've never seen a bullfight. I googled Irapuato, it looks like a nice place to visit.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Jana Iverson LastNovember 4, 2012 at 9:30 AM

      Hi Rob,

      Thanks! I've never seen a bullfight either. And I actually don't have any desire to do so, but these are rather interesting postcards from my grandparents' collections.

      Thanks so much for stopping by!

      Delete
  13. Little NellNovember 4, 2012 at 5:07 AM

    Regardless of whether one is a fan of bullfighting, this is an amzing series of photos from an historical point of view.

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    1. Jana Iverson LastNovember 4, 2012 at 9:31 AM

      Hi Little Nell,

      I agree with you about the historical nature of these postcards. They are rather interesting, even though I'm not a fan of bullfighting.

      Thanks so much for stopping by!

      Delete
  14. Liz StrattonNovember 4, 2012 at 3:19 PM

    These are great postcards. I particularly enjoyed the one of the female bullfighter. Who knew?

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    1. Jana Iverson LastNovember 4, 2012 at 4:41 PM

      Hi Liz,

      Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed the postcards. The postcard with the female bullfighter is quite interesting.

      Thanks so much for stopping by!

      Delete
  15. Yvonne DemoskoffNovember 4, 2012 at 7:33 PM

    I never knew that women were bullfighters, Jana. The things you learn while reading Sepia Saturday blog posts!

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    1. Jana Iverson LastNovember 4, 2012 at 8:16 PM

      Hi Yvonne,

      I'm not sure I knew about women bullfightes myself! And yes, both reading and writing Sepia Saturday blog posts is quite a learning experience, isn't it? I know I've learned new things when I've read other Sepia Saturday blogs too.

      Thanks so much for stopping by!


      Delete
  16. MeriNovember 5, 2012 at 7:18 AM

    It never occurred to me that a woman would choose to become a bullfighter. I wonder what her back story is.

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    1. Jana Iverson LastNovember 5, 2012 at 9:22 AM

      Hi Meri,

      Hmm, yes, what was her back story? And what caused her to decide to be a bullfighter?

      Thanks so much for stopping by!

      Delete
  17. Kat MortensenNovember 5, 2012 at 11:44 AM

    I'm not a fan of bullfighting, by any means, but I can see how it would be a big tourist attraction.

    I found the bonnet! And another lovely lady with a nice hat, as well.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Jana Iverson LastNovember 5, 2012 at 1:05 PM

      Hi Kat,

      Congrats on finding the bonnet! And bonus points for finding the other lady with a hat too!

      Thanks so much for stopping by!

      Delete
  18. Teresa Wilson RogersNovember 5, 2012 at 1:26 PM

    Wow - equality of the sexes in Mexico in 1955! Well at least in standing in front of a one ton angry bull with horns!

    I'm not a big fan of bull fighting either but I found your post and photos very interesting.

    PS - I also found the bonnet, after I enlarged the photo!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Jana Iverson LastNovember 5, 2012 at 2:45 PM

      Hi Teresa,

      I wonder if this woman bullfighter was the only female in this sport at the time, and if there were any women bullfighters before her. In any case, I wouldn't want to either participate in or watch the sport. And congrats on finding the bonnet!

      Thanks so much for stopping by!

      Delete
  19. Bruno LalibertéNovember 5, 2012 at 1:54 PM

    Found 1 bonnet and 13 hats...
    :)~
    HUGZ

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Jana Iverson LastNovember 5, 2012 at 2:42 PM

      Hi Ticklebear,

      Awesome! I hadn't actually counted the men's hats.

      Thanks so much for stopping by!

      Delete
    2. Bruno LalibertéNovember 5, 2012 at 10:12 PM

      You got me wrong here.
      I counted 13 women with hats.
      There more women in there than you presumed
      and some are coiffed.
      :)~
      HUGZ

      Delete
    3. Jana Iverson LastNovember 5, 2012 at 10:14 PM

      Ah! I stand corrected then! :) Wow! You're good. I didn't even notice any other women's hats. I only saw two. Excellent detective skills!

      Delete
    4. Bruno LalibertéNovember 5, 2012 at 10:33 PM

      I'm a true visual!!!
      Can hardly remember a thing I hear,
      but I have photographic memory.
      It does have its perks!!
      :)~
      HUGZ

      Delete