Cemitas and Lucha Libre

An epic duo in Puebla

Cemita bread and plastic fightersMuseo Casa del Mendrugo

Gastronomy and sport

Puebla-style cemitas and lucha libre are two elements that form part of the cultural identity of the city of Puebla in Mexico. Both represent the passion, flavor, and excitement that characterize its culture.

Black and White FighterMuseo Casa del Mendrugo

Mexican lucha libre

Lucha libre is an acrobatic show sport that originated in Mexico in the early 20th century. It is the Mexican version of the fusion of professional and Olympic wrestling, which has a style characterized by its folklore.

It consists of fights between two or more wrestlers, masked or not, who use wrestling techniques to try to defeat each other.

Two fighters in ringMuseo Casa del Mendrugo

There is a constant rivalry between two sides: the rudos (heels) and the técnicos (faces). The técnicos represent good and always follow the rules. In contrast, the rudos represent the forces of evil and will do whatever it takes to win, including cheating.

Ring with FightersMuseo Casa del Mendrugo

Wrestlers can wager their mask against another masked wrestler (mask vs. mask) or against an unmasked wrestler (mask vs. hair).

If the masked wrestler is defeated, he loses his mask; if the wrestler was not wearing a mask, his hair is completely chopped off.

Three fighters in ring, From the collection of: Museo Casa del Mendrugo
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Fighters in ring corner, From the collection of: Museo Casa del Mendrugo
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Fighters and RefereesMuseo Casa del Mendrugo

There is always a judge or referee who ensures that the wrestlers surrender to their opponent, or that when subdued, their back makes contact with the ring floor for a three-second count, thereby losing the round.

The judges are generally impartial, but there are those who take a more prominent role, as they favor the rudo wrestlers and even help them cheat in order to win.

Wrestler wearing beltMuseo Casa del Mendrugo

Lucha libre is much more than a sport: it is an art form loaded with theatricality, a cultural expression, and a tradition that represents the strength, skill, and courage of the wrestlers.

Moreover, they are sometimes considered popular heroes, and their masks are a symbol of their identity and legacy.

Mask and fight souvenir shopMuseo Casa del Mendrugo

Lucha libre is very popular in Mexico and in its short life an entire culture has developed around it, including masks, comic books, photo comics, toys and souvenirs, music, movies, video games, and recently television series.

Cardboard and food fightersMuseo Casa del Mendrugo

Lucha libre in Puebla

Every Monday night, the people of Puebla know they have an appointment at the Arena Puebla, where thousands of spectators enjoy this sport.

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The tradition began with the construction of the Arena Puebla, which has been home to Mexican lucha libre since its inauguration in 1953 by Salvador Lutteroth González, considered the father of lucha libre in Mexico.

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Since the 1990s: a Monday tradition

This venue, located in the neighborhood of El Carmen very close to the city center, has a capacity of approximately 3,000 spectators and has hosted hundreds of shows by the World Lucha Libre Council (CMLL).

Traditional Cemita PueblaMuseo Casa del Mendrugo

Puebla-style cemitas

The traditional cemitas are a dish originating from the city of Puebla. They are a typical street food delicacy, large in size, whole and delicious, combining unique flavors and textures.

Secret recipe

The cemita is a sandwich, made with cemita bread (salty white bread with a round shape, typical of the state of Puebla, with a crispy crust and covered with sesame seeds).

Traditional ingredients

It may be filled with beef or chicken milanesa, quesillo (Oaxaca cheese) or fresh cheese, avocado, chipotle or jalapeño pepper, onion, olive oil, and the characteristic 'pápalo', an intensely green aromatic herb which is added raw and provides a characteristic flavor.

Ingredients of traditional Puebla cemitaMuseo Casa del Mendrugo

It can also be filled with spicy meat, pork ham, pork carnitas, or beef leg.

Sale of cemita bread in the market, From the collection of: Museo Casa del Mendrugo
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Puebla market vegetable stall, From the collection of: Museo Casa del Mendrugo
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You can find the ingredients needed to prepare it in all the city's markets.

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It is said that cemitas originated in an old Pueblan market called 'La Victoria'.

Preparation of traditional Puebla cemitaMuseo Casa del Mendrugo

Records show that as early as the 19th century, this cemita bread was made in the bakeries of the neighborhoods El Alto, La Luz, and Analco, and filled with aguacate criollo (an avocado with an edible thin skin), chipotle peppers in vinegar, and fresh cow cheese.

Cemitas stand inside the Puebla marketMuseo Casa del Mendrugo

Puebla-style cemitas are very popular throughout the state of Puebla, especially in the capital, where they can be found in renowned establishments, restaurants, diners, and especially in all of the city's traditional markets.

Traditional markets for eating cemitas in Puebla: 'El Carmen,' 'La Acocota,' 'El Parral,' '5 de Mayo,' 'Venustiano Carranza,' and 'El Mercado de Sabores'.

Ingredients of the traditional Puebla cemitaMuseo Casa del Mendrugo

This dish is a sample of the gastronomic richness of this state. It is an example of how food can express the culture and identity of a place and the fusion of local ingredients in popular cuisine.

Cemita of struggles and ingredientsMuseo Casa del Mendrugo

Lucha libre cemitas

A characteristic of lucha libre cemitas, unlike the traditional cemitas described above, is that in addition to meat they contain tomato and slices of fried potatoes.

Pot with oil to fry potatoesMuseo Casa del Mendrugo

They are generally prepared in a pot with boiling oil at the bottom in the center, where the milanesa and potatoes are fried, mixing their flavors.

Cemitas to take awayMuseo Casa del Mendrugo

Once prepared, they are wrapped in a paper bag, which makes them very practical to take away, eat standing at the benches, or better yet, enjoy in the seats while watching the lucha libre show.

Cemitas of the struggles in potMuseo Casa del Mendrugo

The demand for this type of cemitas has created established businesses around the Arena Puebla that offer them every day of the week.

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In fact, in the city of Puebla, the consumption of cemitas while watching sporting events has also taken root in the 'Cuauhtémoc' soccer and 'Hermanos Serdán' baseball stadiums.

Fighter vs Cemita de las LuchasMuseo Casa del Mendrugo

The relationship between cemitas and lucha libre

For more than three decades, it has been customary to eat cemitas while enjoying the lucha libre show at the Arena Puebla. Throughout the entire show, vendors roam the aisles offering this unique food, as well as snacks and drinks.

Cemita's StandsMuseo Casa del Mendrugo

As part of the tradition, people also consume them outside the venue at street stalls before and after the show.

Fighter eating cemita of the fightsMuseo Casa del Mendrugo

It is said that the masked wrestlers of Puebla are great fans of these cemitas, sometimes celebrating their victories at street stalls and turning them into meeting points for fans of both worlds.

Cemita de las Luchas, Ring and LuchadoresMuseo Casa del Mendrugo

The cultural impact of cemitas and lucha libre

Both cemitas and lucha libre have had a great impact on Pueblan popular culture and are recognized symbols in the center of the country.

Fighter and cemita breadMuseo Casa del Mendrugo

Puebla-style cemitas represent the gastronomic richness and regional diversity of Puebla, while lucha libre symbolizes the passion, strength, cunning, and skill of Mexicans.

Wrestler with Cemita de las Luchas and Cemita Tradicional PoblanaMuseo Casa del Mendrugo

If you visit Puebla, you should try them!

Through their history and relationship, we have been able to better understand how food and sports can be sources of inspiration, identity, and pride for a society.

Credits: Story

Fundación Casa del Mendrugo A.C.

Alejandra Cosme Mota
Andrea García Vázquez

Brian Elias Martínez Rojas
Ronald de Jesús Cerón Tapia
Maholi Merari García
Photography

Edson Armando Méndez Albavera
Rafael Navarro Guerrero
Ronald de Jesús Cerón Tapia
Editing

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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