Juego de Pelota Arrives in Linz, Austria
This time, Parangueo Media was invited to participate in the Literary Encounters in Linz, a space that Patricia Estrada has been building for years to bring literature, Mexican culture and the Spanish language closer to the community in this Austrian city. Patricia, known by many as “La Catrina de Linz,” has been promoting Mexican culture and organizing cultural activities in Linz for many years.
The invitation brought together two Parangueo Media projects that, although very different, share a common idea: finding new ways to bring culture closer to people and to younger generations.
On one side, Laura Elena Rodríguez presented Juego de Pelota: descubre sus secretos con La Catrina Bohemia, exploring the Mexican ball game, its different forms and the communities that continue to keep these traditions alive.
The Mexican Ball Game
Talking about the Mexican ball game means talking about a tradition with very ancient roots that is still alive in Mexico today.
During the talk, we explored some of its different forms, including pok ta pok, ulama, pelota mixteca and uarhukua ch’anakua. There is not just one way to play. Each tradition has its own rules, playing spaces and ways of being passed on.
Behind each of them are players, families and communities who continue to practice and transmit these traditions today.
To bring this diversity to life in Linz, we also shared photographs and videos provided by players and groups from different parts of Mexico. We are especially grateful to all the people and communities who allowed us to use these materials and share a little of their work and practices with an audience in Austria.
These images and videos are especially valuable because they show the ball game not only as part of Mexico’s history, but as a living tradition that continues to take place today, in courts, community spaces and gatherings where new generations are learning to play.
And perhaps one of the most interesting parts of the encounter was discovering how many different places came together in the same room. Among the attendees were people from Colombia, Peru, Spain, Bolivia and Mexico. Different countries, stories and accents met through the Spanish language and, that afternoon, also through Mexican culture.
From Traditional Games to Robotics
The second part of Parangueo Media’s participation was led by Ondřej Michalák, who presented PokTaBot.
PokTaBot is a project inspired by the Mexican ball game that brings together culture, robotics, programming and technology.
The idea is to create an experience where children can discover elements of Mexican culture while experimenting with technology: building, programming and playing.
It is another way of approaching a tradition—not only by talking about it, but by creating and discovering through technology.
For us, it was especially interesting to present both projects in the same encounter: Juego de Pelota, through stories, traditions and the communities that keep them alive; and PokTaBot, through technology and new possibilities for bringing those stories to younger generations.
Mexico Finds a Place in Linz
This encounter was a beautiful reminder that culture travels. Books, stories, traditions and the people who choose to share them can cross borders and find new audiences.
A special thank you to Patricia Estrada for the invitation and for creating a space in Linz where literature, Spanish and Mexican culture can meet people from different parts of the world.
And thank you to the players, groups and communities who shared their photographs and videos with us, helping us bring a closer and more current view of the Juego de Pelota to Austria.
FEMUC Ulama de Cadera, Tumbi Miteti, Federación Internacional del Deporte Ancestral de Pelota Maya, VIDA-MUERTE / Miquiznemiliztli / Ullama Mexihco Tenochtitlan, Uarhukua Ch’anakua, Jenchekua Kuchunda, Escuela Pelota Mixteca CDMX Moctezuma Aeropuerto, AJDATEO, INDEPORTE CDMX.
We are happy to have brought a little piece of Mexico to Linz through the ball game, La Catrina Bohemia and PokTaBot.
