Tuna! (No, Not the Fish)

Today, my friends, we are going to talk about the tuna -- and I don`t mean the fish! 

La tuna is a band, traditionally made up of university students. It has its origins in the XIII century, where groups of students would go around singing songs and playing instruments for a little something to eat or a few coins. Now, tunas exist for tradition and they play serenades at special events. They also sing songs for the ladies :)  

If you are curious about the name, tuna (the fish) in Spanish is atún, so there can be no confusion. Actually, it is believed the name tuna comes from tunante, an old word meaning something like a rascal. Back in the XIII century, these students would play and sing, not only to survive, but also to play and party well into the night. They had a bit of a reputation as trouble-makers! 

Today, of course, students no longer need to sing in order to eat or make a living, but rather they do so to keep the tradition alive. They even wear the style of clothing from days long past. If you see a group of them, you might feel as if you have stepped back in time! 

Many university departments have their own tunas, and you can tell the difference between them by the colored band they wear. For example, the one in the video above is from a department of sciences. The sash has the seal of the university on it.

Most of the songs they sing are traditional Spanish or folklore songs, and the instruments are rather simple as well...guitars, lutes, and tambourines. 

A lot of tunas travel to other universities as well as other countries. One of my favorite things from seeing them is their cloaks. They wear many patches and shields from countries and cities they have visited. I have adopted this tradition for myself as well, and sew patches from places I have visited, on my pack. 

They're a lot of fun to watch no matter how old or young you are, and when they start singing, you can't help but clap along to the music and sing!