Bolo

[lakeheron 3]

My maid told me she took bolos to the Quinceanera of her niece. What is a bolo? Thanks.

[PULELEHUA 32]

Bolo or Bollo?

[lakeheron 3]

I heard bolo not bollo.

[lakeheron 3]

I just googled it. It appears to be a Mexican term for "regalo" when given at christenings and other ceremonies. I never heard it before.

[fug 0]

I believe that bolo is a christening gift and regalo is gift. Bolo does not seem to be the correct word for a 15th birthday party, unless she was christened at that time. Not sure, just trying to help

[lakeheron 3]

I will ask my maid about this and report back. Thanks.

[Travis 675]

Interesting. I associate them with the posadas. I think of bolos as little round packages, a little bigger than a baseball, filled with toys and candies and stuff.....and passed out to kids during the posadas.

[virgogirl 150]

Yes, I think Travis is correct in that definition. In the context of parties, they are little bags of candy that everyone receives.

[Travis 675]

Or am I thinking of bolas?

Crikey.

I think it's pretty slangish, either way. Good luck.

[More Liana 941]

You have it right--it's bolo. And it does mean present, but a special kind of present that isn't covered by regalo.

Oftentimes--especially at a baptism--the bolo is a doubletriplequadruple handful of small change that is tossed up in the air after the baptismal ceremony for the little guests to scramble after as the coins hit the floor. Usually just the boys participate.

This is what your maid meant, even for a quinceañera. In the case of the quinceañera, the bolos probably were little bags of sweets that were given to every guest, but they could have been the handfuls of change that are common at baptisms. You'll see the same bags of sweets or sugared almonds at weddings. In the case of what you mentioned re Christmas, sometimes those packages of sweets are called bolo and sometimes they are called aguinaldo--yes, the self-same word aguinaldo that means the Christmas bonus for employees.

[lakeheron 3]

Thanks, ML. That is what my gardener explained to me today, more or less. Your explanation is more complete.

[More Liana 941]

Or am I thinking of bolas?

Crikey.

I think it's pretty slangish, either way. Good luck.

Oops...and it's not slang at all. It's a modismo--a colloquial usage. But definitely not slang.

[Travis 675]

Well I'm busted. I use "slang" and "modismo" interchangeably. I guess I don't understand the difference, really. That said, I gave someone a bolo today!

[More Liana 941]

Slang is jerga. Modismo is an idiomatic expression, i.e. a colloquial term. Not slang.

And how did you give someone a bolo? Did you throw coins at whomever? Inquiring minds want to know.

PS: Bolo is not the same as a wedgie. LOL...

[bmh 2,361]

Bolo or volo I do not know the spelling means a drunk in Chiapas, does it mean the same thing here as well.?