by Annie Bryant
Saintly Origins
San Antonio is named after Saint Anthony of Padua. On June 13, 1619, Spanish explorers celebrated Saint Anthony’s feast day in the area. They named it San Antonio, which is Spanish for Saint Anthony, in honor of the saint.
Art Alert
The church at Mission Concepción is the only mission church in San Antonio that has never been seriously damaged as a result of bad weather. Because of this, it still contains some of the original frescos that were painted inside of it when it was first built more than 250 years ago!
My Kind of Party!
San Antonians hold a superhuge celebration called Fiesta San Antonio every year in April. The Fiesta lasts for ten whole days and is full of parades, carnivals, feasts, and art exhibits!
Texan-in-Chief
Four U.S. presidents were Texans: Dwight D. Eisenhower, Lyndon B. Johnson, George H. W. Bush, and George W. Bush.
Lone but Not Lonely
Texas’s nickname, “The Lone Star State,” comes from the design of the state flag, which shows a single five-pointed star.
Saddle Up!
America’s first-ever rodeo was held in Pecos, Texas, on July 4, 1883, when a couple of cowboys decided to find out who could rope calves and ride bulls and broncos the best. When more cowboys found out about the competition, they joined right in. Pretty soon, people were lining up to watch! Every summer, the town of Pecos still holds an annual rodeo. Yee-haw!
A Dilly of a ’Dillo
An Avery Madden Crazy Critters Exclusive
Hey there, animal fans! Avery here, chatting with Sassafras, the nine-banded armadillo—the only species of armadillo that lives in the United States! Sassafras and most of her relatives are from Texas, but she’s also got cousins in Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Florida.
Avery Madden: So, Sassafras, there’s something I’ve just been dying to know. Are armadillos reptiles? I mean, you’ve got scales all over you, so…
Sassafras Armadillo: To tell you the truth, Avery, I’m a mammal. Those scales make up my shell, which has nine bands. It protects me, and it’s actually how I got my name. Armadillo is Spanish for “armored one.”
AM: Wow, really?
SA: ¡Sí, sí! When I curl up, nothing can get me! Armadillos are the only mammal that has an exoskeleton.
AM: An exo-what?
SA: An exoskeleton. You have your skeleton inside of your skin, but I have one on the inside and on the outside. My shell is made out of bone.
AM: You know, I think my science teacher mentioned exoskeletons once. Insects have them, right?
SA: Sí. Speaking of insects, I’m getting kind of hungry.
AM: You eat bugs? Cool!
SA: If there are a lot around. We armadillos are pretty chill—if we can’t find what we want, we’ll settle for second best. My favorite foods are insects, spiders, and small amphibians, but I’ll eat berries and plants too.
AM: Now, I know this is a sensitive subject, but…is there anything out there that would like to eat you?
SA: Gotta love that law of the jungle. I have to be on the lookout for pumas, birds of prey, and snakes.
AM: Yikes! Well, you don’t have to worry about my snake, Walter. He’s completely harmless. Anyway, Sassafras, do you have any siblings?
SA: You better believe it! I’m actually a quadruplet. I have three sisters named Tammy, Pammy, and Cammy.
AM: Wow! Quadruplets! Has People magazine called for a cover shot?
SA: Nah, it’s nothing special. Most armadillos give birth to identical quadruplets.
AM: You mean you and your sisters look exactly the same?
SA: Sí. My sisters and I are so alike, Mom and Dad can’t tell us apart most of the time. It drives them crazy!
AM: So I guess you don’t get your own room.
SA: Nope. I have to share with Tammy, Pammy, and Cammy. Luckily I don’t have to share with my older brothers: Lester, Sylvester, Chester, and Jimbo!
Isabel’s Spanish-English Dictionary
abrazo: hug
abuelito/abuelita: grandfather/grandmother
acequia: irrigation ditch
aeropuerto: airport
Americanas: Americans
amigo/amiga: friend
Ándale: Get a move on
animalitos: little animals
¡Ay!: Oh!
azúcar: sugar
bailador: dancer
balcón: balcony
bolsa: bag
Buenas noches: Good night
Buenas tardes: Good afternoon
Buenos días: Good day
chambelanes: at a quinceañera, the boys who escort the damas on the honor court; literally, “Chamberlains”
chambelan de honor: honor escort
chica: girl
chiles rellenos: spicy stuffed chiles
chinampa: land created in a body of water by piling up mud; part of a landfill system used by the Aztecs
chiquita: little girl
chula: cutie or darling
Claro que sí: Certainly
cocinero: cook
cocina: kitchen
conjunto: genre of music developed in the Mexican-American communities of Texas; literally, “ensemble”
corte de honor: the group of boys and girls who stand by the quinceañera at her celebration; literally, “court of honor” or “honor court”
Cuida a tu mamá: Take care of your mother
damas: the girls who stand by the quinceañera at her celebration; literally, “ladies”
¡Dios mío!: My God!
Don: Mr.
Doña: Mrs.
¿Dónde está…?: Where is…?
empanadas: small pies, like turnovers
entrada: entrance
¿Esa música, que es?: That music, what is it?
fiesta: party
flautas: long tortillas filled with chicken or beef, rolled up, and fried; literally, “flutes”
fuera: out, outside
fuerza: force; strength
gallo: rooster
Gracias: Thank you
gran entrada: grand entrance
grito: shout, scream, yell
harina: flour
Hasta mañana: See you tomorrow
hermana: sister
hermanita: little sister
hijo/hija: son/daughter
huevos: eggs
La Llorona: a Mexican folktale that features a sad “weeping woman”
Le llama…: Its name is…
loco/loca: mad, crazy
magnífico: magnificent
mamacita: dear girl; literally, “little mother”
mantequilla: butter
Me gusto mucho el chocolate: I like chocolate very much
mi amor: My love
mi amorcita: my little love
mi hijita, mi ’jita: my little daughter
mi hijo/mi ’jo: my son
mi muñequita: my little doll
Mira esta muchachita: Look at this little girl
muchacha: girl
muchachita: little girl
muchacho: boy
Muchas gracias: Thank you very much
mujeres: women
música: music
Muy buen hecho: Very well done
muy bueno: very good
Muy travieso, ese gallo, el Pecas: Very mischievous, that rooster, Freckles
niña: girl
padrino/madrino: godfather/godmother; at a quinceañera, family members or family friends who sponsor certain aspects of the celebration
papel picado: Mexican paper art that involves cutting out patterns; literally, “minced paper”
pecas: freckles
preciosa: precious
presidio: fort
primo/prima: cousin
Que bonito: How pretty, How nice
Que demonios!: What demons!
Que hermosa!: What beauty!
queso: cheese
rancheras: folk songs from Mexico
; ranchito: small ranch
rancho: ranch
sala: living room
Salud!: Cheers!
Señor: Mr.
sí: yes
taller: workshop
tamales: filled corn tortillas, steamed inside a corn husk
tlacuache: possum
tinaja: natural swimming hole made of rock; literally, “large earthen jar”
tío/tía: uncle/aunt
Toma: Take this; drink this
travieso: mischievous; making trouble
Venga: Come
verdad: truth
viejita: little old woman