If, while walking in the main plazas (squares) in Mexico City, you noticed the interesting characters all dressed in their traditional beige uniforms and a cap, manually playing a weird instrument which emits a mildly mistuned sound and wondered who they are, well, these are the so-called Organilleros - Organ grinders.
Exploring history further, it seems that organilleros and their instruments came to Mexico from Europe in the late 1800s. Now, 130 years later, they remain a unique attraction in the capital, with only about 250 still performing. They tirelessly play songs inspired by the Mexican Revolution, which explains their soldier-like uniforms.
These once-ubiquitous characters are now slowly disappearing from the Mexican capital. Back in their heyday, they were apparently hired to play at private events for well-off Mexicans. Nowadays it's quite different, the organilleros are almost seen as annoying or perceived as beggars (which they definitely aren't). The reality nowadays is that these organilleros have to practically beg for money as the younger generations do not appear to pay them any attention, and it's perhaps only the older generations and tourists who appear to occasionally drop some coins in their hats.
I guess we'd not be lying if we said there's not much of an income if you choose this career, however many of the organilleros who still play their weird instrument in Mexico City's squares, have done so for many years and are willing to keep this peculiar tradition alive.
Comments