This is PEPE and his twin sister, PEPITA. They live in Mexico, and are going to show you different kinds of clothes worn there.
Pepe's shirt and trousers are white cotton, and he wears a bright sash or 'faja' to keep them together. The gay blanket is a wool 'sarape'. It has a hole in the middle for Pepe to put his head through. When he isn't wearing it like that, he carries it folded over one shoulder, and when he isn't wearing it that way he is probably wrapped up in it fast asleep. His sandals are woven of leather thongs.
Pepita embroidered the flowers and birds on her blouse herself. She never leaves the house without her shawl, called a 'rebozo'. The basket and doll are both made of straw. If the pig bank looks wise it is because he has a secret - he is guarding all Pepe and Pepita's pennies.
These are the costumes worn in Tehuantepec, which is the tropical country in the south of Mexico. There is an interesting story about Pepita's headdress. When the Spaniards first came to Mexico they gave an Indian woman a baby dress with lace frills on the skirt. She didn't know what it was for, so she just put it on her head and folded the lace frills back the way you see it now. All the other women copied her headdress, and it has been worn in that region ever since. Pepe tries to scare all the other little children with his fierce looking mask.
When there is a big fiesta or holiday, Pepe and Pepita dance the 'Jarabe Tapatio' in these costumes. Pepita wears a rebozo again, but in a different way, so that it will not slip off as she dances. Pepita's skirt is bright red flannel and is so heavily embroidered with sequins and spangles that she has to hold it up when she dances around Pepe's big sombrero.
Now Pepita pretends she is a Spanish senorita, and hides her eyes behind her fan. She puts a high comb and flowers in her black hair. Pepe puts out his chest and says he is a brave 'matador' - but if he is a bullfighter, where is the bull?
This is the envelope this wonderful set of paper dolls arrived in. I did not find information when this set was produced, but I am guessing it was in the 1930-40s era. The artist is Leonie Pennock Lowell, lifespan 1916-2006. The envelope indicates if was printed in Mexico.
Pepe and Pepita are 10" paper dolls printed on heavy weight paper.
