Glossary
"La noche buena" (title irony)
The ironic contrast between the title, meaning 'Christmas Eve' (a time of joy and gifts), and the reality of the family's poverty and struggles, which are far from 'good.'
Example:
The irony of the title 'La noche buena' is stark, as Doña Maria's Christmas Eve is marked by anxiety and arrest, not celebration.
...y no se lo tragó la tierra
A seminal novel by Tomás Rivera, from which 'La noche buena' is a part. It explores the harsh realities and resilience of Mexican-American migrant farm workers.
Example:
The novel ...y no se lo tragó la tierra is a powerful example of Chicano literature, giving voice to a community often overlooked.
Bracero Program
A series of agreements between the U.S. and Mexico that allowed Mexican laborers to work temporarily in the U.S. on short-term agricultural contracts from the 1940s to the 1960s.
Example:
The Bracero Program provided labor for American farms but often subjected workers to exploitative conditions and minimal protections.
Cultural assimilation
The process by which a person or a group's culture comes to resemble those of another group, often a dominant one, by adopting its values, behaviors, and beliefs.
Example:
The children's excitement for Christmas, a more prominent holiday in the U.S., over the traditional El Seis de Enero, illustrates their cultural assimilation.
Cultural identity
The sense of belonging to a particular culture or group, often shaped by shared traditions, language, and experiences. In the story, it relates to the challenges of maintaining one's heritage while assimilating.
Example:
The children's desire for Christmas gifts, rather than those on Three Kings Day, subtly reflects a shift in their cultural identity towards American customs.
El Seis de Enero
Also known as Three Kings Day, it is a traditional Latin American holiday celebrated on January 6th, where children traditionally receive gifts, contrasting with the American emphasis on Christmas.
Example:
The children's preference for Christmas over El Seis de Enero shows their gradual assimilation into American cultural norms.
El mercado (Symbolism)
The market symbolizes the overwhelming and unfamiliar landscape that immigrants must navigate, representing cultural and linguistic barriers.
Example:
For Doña Maria, el mercado transforms from a place of commerce into a disorienting maze, reflecting her alienation in a foreign environment.
El policia (Symbolism)
The police officer symbolizes the prejudice and systemic challenges that immigrants often face, representing authority figures who may not understand their circumstances.
Example:
The encounter with el policia highlights the vulnerability of immigrants and the potential for misunderstanding or injustice they face.
Immigrant experience
The collective challenges, adaptations, and transformations faced by individuals and families who move from one country to another, often involving cultural shock, language barriers, and discrimination.
Example:
'La noche buena' vividly portrays the immigrant experience through Doña Maria's disorientation in the market and her encounter with the police.
Las divisiones socioeconómicas
An AP Spanish Literature theme focusing on the disparities in wealth, status, and opportunity within a society, often highlighting the struggles of marginalized groups.
Example:
The family's inability to buy Christmas gifts due to their low wages as migrant workers directly illustrates las divisiones socioeconómicas in the story.
Las sociedades en contacto
A recurring AP Spanish Literature theme that explores the interactions, conflicts, and transformations that occur when different cultures or societies meet.
Example:
Doña Maria's struggle to communicate in the Kres market exemplifies las sociedades en contacto, where cultural and linguistic differences create significant barriers.
Los regalos (Symbolism)
In 'La noche buena,' gifts symbolize the vast socioeconomic inequality between the wealthy, who can afford them, and the poor, who cannot.
Example:
The absence of los regalos for Doña Maria's children powerfully underscores the family's financial struggles and the broader theme of poverty.
Marginalization
The process by which individuals or groups are pushed to the fringes of society, often experiencing exclusion, discrimination, and a lack of power.
Example:
Doña Maria's isolation in the market and her inability to communicate effectively highlight her marginalization as an immigrant in a dominant culture.
Migrant farm workers
Individuals who travel seasonally to find work in agriculture, often facing low wages, harsh conditions, and constant displacement.
Example:
The struggles of migrant farm workers are a central theme in many Chicano literary works, highlighting their resilience despite immense hardship.
Search for dignity
A thematic element where characters strive to maintain their self-respect and worth in the face of adversity, poverty, or discrimination.
Example:
Despite her arrest, Doña Maria's quiet resilience and her husband's defense of her demonstrate a subtle search for dignity amidst their difficult circumstances.
Tomás Rivera
A Mexican-American author and educator, known for his work depicting the experiences of migrant farm workers. He won the Premio Quinto Sol for his novel *...y no se lo tragó la tierra*.
Example:
Tomás Rivera drew from his own childhood as a migrant worker to create authentic and poignant narratives.