051: California in 1834 Part 3: Wine and Weddings

This is the third and final installment exploring the recollections of Carlos N. Híjar, who came to Alta California from Mexico in 1834 at age eight. Key points include: 

1. Detailed description of wine and brandy production methods at the missions.
2. Explanation of flour-making techniques using millstones.
3. In-depth discussion of marriage customs among Californios, including: 
   • Selection of godparents before birth
   • Baptism celebrations
   • Arranged marriages between families
   • The betrothal process and living arrangements
   • Wedding ceremonies and multi-day celebrations

We finish with brief insights into the general character and lifestyle of Californios.

Transcript

Damian Bacich 0:00

Today we are. Doing a third and final installment. Of our beg SERPs from the recollections of Carlos N E R. Who came to out to California from Mexico. In 1834 at the age of eight years old. And he provides some precious details about what life was like in Alta California at the time particular. He talks about the area around Santa Barbara. And so. Today, we're going to do the third. Selection. From his writings. And I would recommend you go back and listen to the other two episodes where he talks about. The bear and bull fights, he talks about. How people saying in danced in California? How people dressed. The how work was divided up between men and women. And those, those particular customs of the time period and the place. So I think they're really interesting. No. This last series of excerpts, we're going to read. He's going to talk a little bit about how wine and Brandy was made at the mission, which I think is, is very interesting. But she, since. Wine is such an important part of California's economy today. And then we're going to hear about. Marriage. Right. What happened? How did people get together? How do people get married among the California's and what happened? How did they celebrate it? So. Let's get into it.

1:47

Welcome to California Frontier, the show about the often overlooked and unexpected early history of the place we call California. I'm your host, Damian Basich.

RODECaster Duo Main Stereo & Cam Link 4K 1:59

All right. The method, which the missionary is generally used for making the Brandy and wine. Was the following. The grapes. We're piled up in a mound. In a loft. I covered with well cleaned hides. Afterwards. Several Indians. Well, bathed and unclothed. We're set to trampling it. For close. These Indians were only a very light loin cloth. Their heads. We're tied up to prevent any hair from falling in the grapes. Their hands were covered with cotton cloth. To wipe off the perspiration. And each one was provided with a pole to keep him from falling. The juice of the grapes, which ship through the hides. Was collected. In things put underneath for that purpose. Now, he doesn't say what these things were, but we can imagine. When these were full. The juice was changed to a large wooden VAT. Which served as a tent, a tank. When all the grapes were well trampled. All the juice. Was put in tanks, kept for the purpose. And it was left there for two or three months. Covered with the big-ass of the grape. So that it would ferment. Now big-ass. Is the leftover stuff. That's there after you crush the grapes. Right? So I guess the skins seeds, et cetera. The gas was pressed and wooden presses. And the juice was put into copper vessels in the shape of jars. Covered with a kind of hat. A couple of tubes were put in. And then the liquid was heated. To bring about evaporation and condensation. By means of these vessels. They use stills to obtain their Brandy. To make white wine. They just drew off the first use of the grape. And deposited it in a specific place. So you see that we're making Brandy using copper stills. Alongside the the wine and they were clearly, they were making white wine. With the first grape juice and I guess. Red wine with the rest. Carlos continues. Related to wine-making. We shall tell in a few words, The method used by the missionaries and some individuals to make flour. This consisted in throwing the wheat on some stones. Which were dragged across some others. Suspended from a pole. Fixed to a vertical axle. These stones were moved by animals. When the wheat was well, ground. It was sent to the sifters and sifted there. Until it was as fine as one could wish. These mills are like those. Which I use to crush metals. Very interesting. So he describes how they made flour. And clearly they had a millstone for grinding the flour. Now let's get in. Two. I talk about marriage customs among the Californias. And this is. This is interesting and amusing at the same time. Carlos continues. Let us put aside the products of the mission to go on talking about the customs of the When at Kelly Ford, you saw that his wife was pregnant. Although it might be five months or more before the birth. He with the consent of the wife. Would invite the godparents who were to baptize the baby. These godparents from the moment they were invited and accepted. Began to make their preparations, according to their financial means. And here it's important to note how important. The practice of God. Parentage was in Alta, California, and still is in many parts of the world, especially in Latin America. The godparent godfather godmother. The composite is the Bernardino. Reno's huge. Had a huge, important role. In the upbringing of the child and in the family itself. So godparents are selected before birth, and then they set about preparing for the baptism. I says. They would, they would invite the godparents who were to baptize the baby. Obviously the priest is going to baptize the baby, but the godparents are the ones responsible for organizing everything. And they're the witnesses. And so continuing the woman gave birth. And after 15, 20, or more days, they proceeded to take the baby to the parish church for the missionary to put the baptismal water on it. When the godparents went on the day and our agreed upon to the home of the baby's father. To take it to be baptized. They played music on the way. Thus showing their pleasure and enthusiasm. When they reached the house. The family came out. Welcome the godparents. And then made the trip to the church. They kept playing the music on the way until they arrived at the baptistry. Some people stayed outside the church. Waiting for the godparents to come out. When they came out. Fireworks and solve. Those were fired. Bells rang. And the music played. Everybody joined the godparents and the family. To accompany them to the home of the God child. When the baptism ended. The godparents. Relatives and parents of the baby. Invited the priest to go home with them. Even for a short while. He never refused. For he knew. If he refused. It would displease them. And generally they all try to be well-liked by the hint of that. upon their arrival. All the guests were given a little loaf of bread. Made for the occasion. And a slice of Mellon or something else. This constituted, what they called BOLO. As a souvenir of that day, money was given to the missionary. Assistance. Or pages as they were called. And other important people. After these insignificant gifts. The music played. And the dance. Which lasted a day or two. Began. It was the duty of the nearest relatives of the baby's family to attend baptism. Without any invitation. And if they did not go. It was sufficient reason. For the parents and godparents to feel insulted. The distant relatives and friends of the parents and godparents were invited. And they too had to attend the celebration. These baptisms took place at night. Those of the people who did not live in the mission. But in some more or less distance settlement. Took place on Sundays after mass. When to California's were friends and had a family. And one had a daughter and the other, a son. Even though these were very young. The father's arranged. Because it suited them. So. That when the children were bigger, they would be married. These arrangements took place only between the fathers of the children. And they tried to keep the children. From learning of their plants. And you could imagine why they might want to keep the children from knowing. If the children knew that. That they'd all. Ready had their marriage prearranged. That might cause a little bit of rebellion. I could imagine. Although, of course, as we know, there are societies where arranged marriage is quite common and everybody goes along with it. But clearly in this case, it was. The fathers who came together. With the idea and they kept it from the children. All right, so let's continue. This is where it gets interesting. About two years, more or less before the marriage would occur. The girl's father. Would ask the other father. For his son. Who would be given to him and taken to live in his home. This act made them betrothed. So then from the day on which the fiance went to live in the home of his future, father-in-law. He was treated as a son. And he gave the man obedience and respect and treated him as a father. The future father-in-law treated his new son. As though he were one of the family. He made him work at the usual hours at the duties, which were assigned to him to do. If sometime he made an error. The father considered it, his right to punish him. And he did so. Without the sons feeling any resentment at the act. When the boy had learned to work well. The marriage proceeded. Without any opposition from the children. Since aside from the affection, which had been born in them through living under the same roof. They had to obey their parents. Thing, which was very sacred to them. So you can imagine. How in those cases? Where somebody eloped. And, like in the case of. Jose. Curry or the Fitch. I believe it was who eloped with someone who was not chosen. By her parents. This was a huge breach of protocol. In the whole community, not just in her family. So. That helps explain things a little better. If you've heard that story. All right. So returning on. When the day of the wedding was decided, the fathers of the VITROS. went to the missionary, informed him of the fact. And then the bans were published. Unless they paid for the dispensation of them. Okay. Wedding bands. If you don't know, it was something quite common, quite common. Until recently. And I believe they still are. Part of the required. The requirements of Catholic Canon law, a ban. Is basically. A notice. Public notice that these two people are getting married. And if there is someone who has an objective. Reason why they shouldn't be married, they're supposed to speak up. And by objective reason, that usually means. You know, It is one of these two people already married. Do they have children somewhere that are not generally known about, are they blood kin? Are they blood relatives? So all these things. Are meant to make sure that the marriage doesn't have any. Impediments right. Legal impediments or canonical impediments. So the bands were published. Unless they paid for the dispensation of them. Not sure. How that happened, but. Evidently it did. So. Continuing on when this preamble and others required by the church were finished. The missionary blessed the pear. And declared them married before God and men. When the betrothed pair went to the church. They went without music and in the most silent manner. But when the ceremony ended. There were friends and music at the door of the church. To receive them and carry them in triumph. If one may say so. To their home. On arriving there, they began to dance. And that was a dance, which lasted two or three days. If the couple did not live at the mission or village. The Pueblo. But on some nearby ranch. Then the music also accompanied them. But about halfway there, another band came out to welcome them. And playing and singing all together. They arrived at the ranch where a huge Bower was awaiting for the dance. The dance lasted six. Eight or more days. And every day. They had to kill a calf. Or two. To feed the guests. When there were notables. That is I guess, important and important noteworthy people. Table was set for them. And the rest eight beside the Bauer. Beneath the shade of the trees. And near some spring or Creek. They themselves took their strips of meat and roasted them at the heat of the fire. And ate them at once. Most of the men could play and sing. And when some of the musicians became tired, others replaced them. And in this way. There was time for everybody to sleep. Dance play and sing. These celebrations were very joyous. Never were there troubles to disturb the harmony, which they enjoyed. Rather than a reunion of friends and acquaintances. It was a meeting of brothers. Who endeavored only to enjoy themselves. And have a good time. I would love to have attended one of those. One of those. Wedding parties. It sounds sounds wonderful. At least to my mind, maybe to you, it doesn't, but to me it sounds like a great time. He continues the wagons, which bore the couple in their friends, from the ranch to the church and back again to the ranch. We're adorned with colored bedspreads. And silk handkerchiefs. Moreover, they never lacked fresh bows from the trees and flowers from the fields. All of the men rode horseback. And some of the women too. Either alone or accompanied by some man who rode on the croup of the horse. The VITROS pear war, nothing out of the ordinary on that day. Except that their clothes were neater. The bride or a crown of artificial flowers. Sometimes white. But generally have different colors. Sometimes the fathers of the couple would not let them join each other. And tell the celebrations were over. The missionary who had married them. I was also invited to the wedding celebration. But they never detained him for more than a day. Due to the pressing duties, which he had as director of the mission. The sponsors of the couple. We're agreed upon by both fathers. The bride and groom. Felt obliged to visit the missionary after mass on the Sunday, following the one on which they had been married. Generally, they were accompanied by their parents or godparents. The purpose of this visit. Was to thank the missionary. Who presented them with some fruit or other trifle? The marriage fees were paid in cash. When they had it. Or in hides or Tolo. So. He talks some more about the different roundups and rodeos that they Kelly FORNAS would have. And here he finishes. Or at least the, the text of this. Testimony in this book. Finishes. And he here. Discusses what he calls the character of the Californios. Quote. To conclude our remarks about the Californios. We shall say a few words as to their character. This. Just as their customs. Was generally very simple. The women always spent their lives in their domestic duties. And in the tasks already mentioned. And the men. Always went about the country. Mounted on their horses. Running. Lassoing and killing deer and cattle. Their gatherings were very intimate and simple. And their treatment of one another was very affectionate. And simple. As has been said, They all called each other cousins. Even though no bond of relationship United them. All the aforesaid however does not be lie. The fact. That there were some individuals. Who abused, such simplicity and candor. Committing misdeeds. Which history must now have assigned to them in its pages. So clearly. Don't Carlos. He thinks that there were definitely some scoundrels out there. And I don't know which scoundrels he might've been referring to. It be worth a follow-up. But I think his description of the lives of the Californios that is the. The. Sadler's and children of the settlers in Alta, California. Is. Precious for giving us a window into. The culture. Of this place, that in some ways, Has changed so much. Over the years. But that still. Bears the, the echoes, the imprint. Of these people and their presence here. And of course. The. The descendants. Of them who still to this day. Our proud. Of their forebears and try to keep their memory alive. So I hope you've enjoyed this window into early. California life. Lives the Kelly Ford meals. And my goal is to continue to. Keep sharing. Documents like this with you. Then help to aluminate and hopefully. Take away some of, some of the stereotypes, some of the. The cliches that we're used to hearing or reading with regards to life in early California. And as always. We'll also continue to bring you. interviews. With people who can add some more insight. Based on their own studies. And their own expertise in. Understanding and delving into this really fascinating time period. So until next time. I am Damian Bassett coming to you from the past. And inviting you to go out and explore and discover something new. Bye-bye.

22:45

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