Since its inception, the good ol' "Chiquitibum" has been established as Mexico's famous football soccer cheer. It was popularized to the masses with a catchy jingle paired to a beer commercial during the 1986 World Cup; but the story of this god-awful, catchy tune, goes way back in time to the introduction of the sport in the country. Lets's read it for a moment, shall we?
"Chiquitibum a la bim bom ba, chiquitibum a la bim bom ba, a la bio, a la bao, a la bim bom ba, Mexico Mexico, Rah rah rah!"
Watch the 1986 ChiquitiBum commercial posted at "El Universal" newspaper archives here: http://videos.eluniversal.com.mx/chiquitibum.html
Where did it come from?
"The Chiquitibum" is attributed to Carlos Garcés, a player in the Mexican soccer team of young football aficionados Club América founded in 1923. The sound of a locomotive was related to the chiqitubum. Alright, this makes total sense, but how about the rest?
I can assume that the Garcés family came from Spain (specifically from Aragon, Huesca, or Barcelona.) The story then gets more and more interesting when we realize that this is a cheer in Catalan saying: Alá Mio, Alá Bao, Alá Bim.
The Catalan language is very interesting, it's almost like speaking Italian in the form of Vulgar Latin; simplifying words to make it fast and easier. At the same time, Catalan has a connection with French, with the similar use of accents and words (adieu = adeu, sortie = sortida). Also it's important to mention that the area was conquered by the Moors at some point in the 8th century, even though it wasn't to the same extent than in the areas of Castilla and Portugal.
So, here's what "Alá Mio, Alá Bao, Alá Bim" truly means:
The Catalan language is very interesting, it's almost like speaking Italian in the form of Vulgar Latin; simplifying words to make it fast and easier. At the same time, Catalan has a connection with French, with the similar use of accents and words (adieu = adeu, sortie = sortida). Also it's important to mention that the area was conquered by the Moors at some point in the 8th century, even though it wasn't to the same extent than in the areas of Castilla and Portugal.
So, here's what "Alá Mio, Alá Bao, Alá Bim" truly means:
Dios Mio, Dios Querido, Dios Piadoso = My Allah, Dear Allah, Pious Allah.
I can't help to chuckle to see fans singing this completely oblivious of what the cheer means. If you think about Mexico being mostly populated by a Catholic/Christian religious community, fervently believing that their God is the One True God. The message is not coming through amigos, you're singing to the wrong god.
This may be proof that soccer is some serious "monkey" business *winks at Robert Anton Wilson*
I can't help to chuckle to see fans singing this completely oblivious of what the cheer means. If you think about Mexico being mostly populated by a Catholic/Christian religious community, fervently believing that their God is the One True God. The message is not coming through amigos, you're singing to the wrong god.
This may be proof that soccer is some serious "monkey" business *winks at Robert Anton Wilson*
At last, the Rah Rah Rah cheer comes from Hooray, so don't get too excited; they're abso-freakin-lutely not cheering to the Egyptian God Ra, but you never know these days.
