Interviewer
Erika Cardoso
Project
El Paso Folklore (English 3374)
Summary of Interview
Myrna M. Cardoso, a native of Ciudad Juárez who is a stay-at-home mother, shares how the preparation of traditional Cuaresma foods. For her, these foods reflect a ritual that embodies the importance of family, community, and respect. She expresses her respect towards her mother and their upbringing as Catholics. Myrna recalls her memories of Cuaresma when she was younger and what that meant for her to continue this tradition in a new generation that differed from her childhood. She would give up her personal activities, such as watching T.V. and listening to the radio, in order to give her time to her family and God by preparing and consuming traditional Cuaresma foods such as tortas de camarón and capirotada. This ritual for Cuaresma was passed down by her mother, and she speaks on the changes of her ritual now as a mother living in El Paso.
Myrna recounts the time she experienced with local vendors in Juárez and how accessible items were for creating Cuaresma dishes without needing the time to cook the meals. She shares that her mother would do everything by hand and begin her process on Good Friday. This was a memorable moment for Myrna and became a time for reflection on herself and what she had in her childhood. She continues to follow closely to her mother’s traditions; however, she says that times have changed and she is now able to gather food differently and more efficiently for her to use. Nonetheless, her ritual brings her a sense of peace and finds the abstinence from meat as a new form of respect for her herself and her family. The focus on the present moment when she creates these dishes is something she believes is beautiful. She hopes to see her children follow this same tradition, because it spiritually helps us focus on the simple joys of life. She speaks about having a new perspective on all the tasks, like cooking, her mother did and the time she spent creating these dishes. Similarly, Myrna continues to prepare each dish with the amount of love her mother had for her.
Date of Interview
11-18-2025
Length of Interview
37:57
Listen to the Interview
Tape Number
No. 1811
Transcript Number
No. 1811
Interview Number
1811
Terms of Use
Unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Interview with Myrna M. Cardoso by Erika Cardoso, 2025, "Interview No. 1811," Institute of Oral History, University of Texas at El Paso.
Comments
Student Created