Wolfgang Baron von Erffa

What people wore

Festive white dresses for young women

On feast days, girls sang in unison wearing elaborate white muslin dresses trimmed with lace, over parti-colored petticoats, adorned with bright satin vests and jewelry.

Getting around

Bus travel required pushing vehicles through mud

In 1940, bus trips between Mexico City and Queretaro took over seven hours, partly because passengers often had to get out and push the bus through mud or streams on unpaved roads.

At the table

Adoption of international foods and drinks

During this period, middle-class and wealthy urban diets began incorporating international foods like hamburgers, hot dogs, and doughnuts, while Coca-Cola became a popular alternative to traditional aguas frescas.

Music

Rural Adoption of Foreign Music and Instruments

In rural Tlaxcala, a local family orchestra adopted foreign instruments like the violin, clarinet, mandolin, double bass, and drums to perform international genres such as blues, foxtrot, and swing.

Daily life

School and play for children

School routines were central to children's lives, often requiring them to arrive well-groomed and clean to meet teachers and friends. Because houses were often small and lacked private spaces, many children relied on public spaces like schools or the street as their main areas for play and socialization.

Work

Long hours for railroad camp cooks

Railroad camp cooks often faced long hours, such as 15-hour shifts from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., with some workers receiving retroactive payment for four hours of daily overtime.