Her Stage Name
La Macarrona was the stage name of Juana Vargas. The name is said to be taken from two of her flamenco ancestors named Macarrón, who flourished in the 18th century: Tío Juan Macarrón and Tío Vicente Macarrón.
Macarrona in English would mean "macaroni or macaroon". In addition to the foods, the word "macaroni" in 18th century England also signified an "English dandy... who affected foreign mannerisms and fashions." This second meaning originally derived from Italian, and is retained in the Spanish cognate "macarronea", which currently may signify "burlesque verse" mixing "real or coined words from two or more languages." So that, if in itself meaningful, Juana la Macarrona would mean something like "Jane of the mixed-language verse", fitting her exotic knack for off-stage humor. Or perhaps more appropriately, Juana la Macarrona would mean "the dandy", suiting her engaging theatrics, and enigmatic presence on stage.
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