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The 90s remain a beloved era for many who experienced the transition of tech, pop music, and fashion. From flip phones to itty bitty crop tops that didn’t cover nearly enough (please, Gen Z, leave the cringe 90s fashion in the past where it belongs), the 90s hold a special place in our hearts. If you want to feel the nostalgia, here are 10 ways to tell you’re 90’s Latina through and through:
Selena Quintanilla was (and still is) your queen
For 90's Latinas, Selena Quintanilla wasn't just a singer; she was an icon. She was talented, beautiful, stylish, and warm, and her cultural impact lives on to this day. If you grew up singing "Como La Flor" into your hairbrush and dreaming of having Selena’s wardrobe, you're definitely a 90's Latina.
Your closet was all about flannel and denim
The 90s were all about grunge fashion, and Latinas embraced it better than anyone. Whether it was pairing a flannel shirt with ripped jeans or sporting a denim jacket accessorized with patches, you did it all. Don’t even get us started on Colombian jeans, the low-rise ones popularized by Shakira in her “Whenever, Wherever” music video. We all had a pair of those, and unless you looked just like Shakira or Christina Aguilera, you probably hated them as much as the dreaded crop top. We won’t get into the body dysmorphia and body image problems 90’s fashion created… (this part, we definitely don’t miss).
Boy bands and pop divas were your jam
From Ricky Martin to Shakira, and from the Backstreet Boys to *NSYNC, the 90s were a golden age for boy bands and pop divas. The boy band Menudo even had a bit of a resurgence thanks to all that boy band craze. If your CD collection was filled with their albums, and you spent hours practicing dance moves from their music videos and declaring yourself a “genie in a bottle” ala Christina Aguilera, there’s no doubt you’re a 90's Latina.
You grew up watching telenovelas
Long before streaming services ruled the world, telenovelas were the ultimate form of entertainment for Latinas. Whether you were rooting for Thalía in "María la del Barrio" or swooning over Eduardo Yañez, your evenings were spent glued to the television, wrapped up in the drama and romance of it all. The fact that you had to wait for a new episode and count down the days until the grand finale, speaks to the power of overacted, hardly believable drama. Admit it, it was fun! And there’s nothing like that time with family sharing in the shocking moments unfolding.
You perfected the art of wearing butterfly clips
No 90's Latina's hair was complete without a bunch of butterfly clips in every color, glittery style, and size. Whether you preferred neon colors or glittery designs, the butterfly clips were a staple and you refused to leave the house without them. Nowadays, butterfly clips have made a bit of a comeback, and they’re still one of the most popular 90’s hairstyles people reference.
You had crunchy hair
Curly-haired Latinas were crazy about making their hair as hard and crunchy as possible. We’re sure every Latina did this at least once, even if you’ve suppressed the memory. The second you stepped out of the shower, you would drench your locks in gel and/or mousse until your hair was as stiff as humanly possible. And the straight-haired Latinas were trying every perm out there to try to get that curly look. Let’s be honest, it was a good time!
You watched “Sabado Gigante” religiously
For 90's Latinas, Saturday mornings meant one thing: "Sabado Gigante." Hosted by the legendary Don Francisco, the variety show was a staple of Latin American television and you just couldn’t miss it. The power of “Sabado Gigante” is difficult to explain; you just had to be there and we’re glad we were! We’re happy, of course, to leave the scantily clad product models in the past.
You adored your Tamagotchi
Photo by COSMOH LOVE on UnsplashTamagotchis were more than just toys; they were our dear pets and friends. Were you a slave to a silly little virtual pet? Yes. But was it entertaining and did you love it? Also yes. Tamagotchis are iconic and they were a quintessential part of growing up in the 90's. They’re still around today, but nothing will beat the way we experienced them in the 90’s.
You practiced your Spanish with “Sesame Street”
Photo by USAG- Humphreys on Flickr
"Plaza Sésamo" was more than just a television show; it was a way for 90’s Latinas to practice their Spanish. From learning the alphabet to singing along with catchy songs, "Sesame Street" had a huge role in shaping the cultural identity of Latina children. It also paved the way for shows like Dora the Explorer to reach massive mainstream popularity in the 2000s.
You had the biggest crush on Chayanne
Album Cover "Tiempo de Vals" Credit: Sony Music
Honestly, who wouldn’t? Not only did Chayanne have the looks, but he also had the voice AND the dance moves. The phenomenon of Chayanne and the way he swept so many people off their feet should be studied. He didn’t try to copy the “cross-over” artists like Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias. Instead, he stuck to his native language of Spanish and it wasn’t until 1998, with his breakout role and song in “Dance with Me,” that he proved his charisma could carry over into the English-language market. He didn’t stay there long though, choosing to continue to mostly produce in Spanish.
Being a 90's Latina was quite a way of life and while times have changed a lot, those memories will always have a special place in our hearts.
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Latin Americans are no strangers to the magic of cascarones, a staple during Easter. Cascarones are an innocent way to play a prank on loved ones and bring some laughter to holiday festivities. They are confetti-filled eggshells decorated with bright colors and sometimes covered with tissue paper.
Getting ready for Easter weekend
To prepare for Easter weekend, families save the carefully hollowed-out eggshells from their morning breakfast a month or two in advance. These eggshells are then thoroughly cleaned and dyed in bright colors or left undyed before being filled with confetti and covered again with a thin layer of tissue paper or clear tape. Although the additional wrapping of tissue paper is less and lesson common for Latinos in the U.S.
But did you know the story of cascarones began in China?
Photo by Luisfi on Wikimedia Commons
After Marco Polo visited China in the 13th century, he found a version of the cascarones. Those colored eggs were filled with scented powders and they weren’t used for innocent pranks but instead given as gifts. He was delighted by the little discovery, so he shared it with the royal courts of Europe, and that’s how they made their way to Mexico in the mid-1800s through Emperor Maximilian’s wife Carlotta.
Cascarones in Mexico
Once the cascarones arrived in Mexico, the eggs began to evolve. Instead of scented powder, they were filled with confetti. Their use changed as the Latin American sense of humor created its own tradition of cracking them over people’s heads. This inspired the name cascarones, which translates into “shell hits.”
Cascarones in the United States
Eventually, the tradition of cascarones made its way to the United States with the large migration of Mexicans to border towns. You can see the cascarones for yourself in places like Texas, California, and the southwest states of New Mexico, Arizona, and Nevada. While they are used year-round in Latin American countries to celebrate birthdays and other festivities, the Mexican-American culture adopted the practice mainly at Easter festivities.
Leave no trace
Social media post by dinovalleysp
Cascarones are so popular in some states like Texas, they have issued warnings about leaving confetti paper behind after Easter picnic celebrations. Easter is a time for family, fun, and relaxation but also a time to be mindful of your footprint if you are going to participate in this festive tradition!
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While Latine families face a lot of stressors when adjusting to life in the United States, it is oftentimes the children who bear the brunt of navigating systems such as language, habits, and traditions for them. Since families are so close-knit in most Latine homes, this removes many boundaries as parents are dependent on their children to help them navigate these spaces.
We often hear stories of having to translate important government and medical documents starting at a very young age, something that goes well into our teen and young adult years that leaves us to feel as though we can’t set boundaries since we are a major source of support for our parents.
This left me wondering how healthy our relationships with our parents are when we feel obligated to help and support them. Not only is this support manifested in daily chores and tasks, but it can also have a personal impact on our own lives.
Remember applying to college and wondering how close you should stay to home? How about dating and wondering what your parents and family would say about your choice of partner? So often we are caught up in acts of service to our family that we might forget to set boundaries and truly ask ourselves an all-important question: what makes me happy?
Let’s be real, if it was up to our mom she would have us living at home until we get married and have us over for dinner every day. It’s easy to get guilted into these things, but you can set boundaries and help your family adjust to your lifestyle. It’s okay to live by your own rules and focus on life on your terms, amiga.
Communicate with Your Parents
This one seems fairly straightforward, but it’s easier said than done.
I’ve chosen to take a nontraditional approach to do this: I’ve decided to see my mom as my friend. What she used to say to get under my skin no longer does so because I am not holding myself to the standards of an obedient daughter. I chose to have a relationship with my mom where we talk about most things I’d chat about with my friends. It helps to remember that your mom was a young woman once too and while she might have grown up a different way, she still questioned life the same way you do. I do the same with my dad because even though my relationship with him is different than my mom, he also had aspirations in life that were unique to him.
Shaping these conversations through the lens of friendship will help you change the way your parents perceive you. You’re no longer a child that they can guilt trip, and they will quickly realize this as you open up to them.
Learn To Say No
Sometimes you just have to hurt some feelings and say no. No to the cookout, no to the errand that they’re asking about and no to the family party you don’t want to attend. Yes, this one is difficult but if you keep pouring from an empty cup how will you function? How will you be able to keep your peace and joy around them if you start feeling resentful about all the things you feel obligated to attend to or do for your family?
Call Out Machismo
Latine families can oftentimes be rooted in machismo. Think about the dynamics of your family and how often the women are expected to serve the men or how you might be expected to be married and have kids by 25. These are all issues that leave us feeling guilty, overwhelmed, and resentful, making it a priority to call them out to change them. Setting these types of boundaries allows your family to know what to expect from you. Heck, they might see it as being radical, but soon they’ll realize the freedom they too can find in calling out and rejecting our machista traditions that they have simply conformed to.
Give Yourself Some Grace
This won’t be a smooth ride. Your family won’t immediately accept your boundaries because you have given them so much comfort over the years. Whether it has been always attending family parties or dinners, translating documents, navigating complicated government systems, or anything in between, they haven’t had to figure it out on their own because you have always stepped in. There might have been a cost to your own mental health, but that has not been something they’re aware of, and it’s time you give yourself some grace. Give yourself some grace for the times when you’ll get the guilt trips and grace to know that you’re more valuable as a healthy individual. It will pass, and you’ll have a stronger relationship for it.
There is no denying that it’s hard to set boundaries in the Latine family, but it’s important to do so because many of us aren’t living in survival mode any longer, instead pursuing our goals to live a happy life and thrive.
While traditional Latine families might have served as a way to survive in Latin American countries, we no longer have to live based on traditional customs. You can have a happy Latine family and happy individuals within those families. Everyone wins this way, but it will take some adjustment.
The next time your mom begs you to come to your family dinner after you’ve been working tirelessly, it’s okay to say no and take a bubble bath. You can always go shopping with your mamá during the weekend. You’ll show up happier and more authentically and your mamá will appreciate it. We’re rooting for you because we know you can do it amiga!