The Triquis and the metamorphosis of butterflies

La Joya del Mamey Copala and San Andres Chicahuaxtla

Guelaguetza Festival 2023 (2023) by Secretaría de las Culturas y Artes de OaxacaSecretaría de las Culturas y Artes de Oaxaca

Guelaguetza

The Guelaguetza festival is held in the capital of Oaxaca on the "Lunes del Cerro" in July.

This celebration brings together the different ethnic groups and mestizo cultures from the regions of Oaxaca to share their dances, traditions, and gastronomy with locals and visitors. Get to know them!

The Triquis and the metamorphosis of butterflies (2023) by Secretaría de las Culturas y Artes de OaxacaSecretaría de las Culturas y Artes de Oaxaca

Los Triquis

The Triqui ethnic group is like an island in the middle of the ocean of the Mixtec territory. It is a wild land, with picturesque landscapes wrapped in a thick mist and bathed in the waters of the rafting and green rivers.

The Triquis and the metamorphosis of butterflies (2023) by Secretaría de las Culturas y Artes de OaxacaSecretaría de las Culturas y Artes de Oaxaca

The use of the Huipil is daily, but also on special occasions such as weddings, stewardships and funeral rites.

The textile represents the metamorphosis of butterflies, which narrates the transition from an earthly life to a spiritual one: the red stripes are the caterpillars and the figures in the middle are the butterflies.

Lucia Barrios, miembro de la Etnia Triqui (2023) by Secretaría de las Culturas y Artes de OaxacaSecretaría de las Culturas y Artes de Oaxaca

Flowers on the head are placed by friends and family as a symbol of love, affection and good wishes.

Detalles del Sol (2023) by Secretaría de las Culturas y Artes de OaxacaSecretaría de las Culturas y Artes de Oaxaca

Due to the use of indigo, the huipiles were made in blue and, with the advent of synthetic dyes, they changed to red.

Currently they are also made in white and are usually used when adult women think they are about to reach their spiritual transition.

Matrimonio triqui (2023) by Secretaría de las Culturas y Artes de OaxacaSecretaría de las Culturas y Artes de Oaxaca

The girls learn from their mothers and grandmothers to make textiles on a waist loom.

Julián López, miembro de la Etnia Triqui (2023) by Secretaría de las Culturas y Artes de OaxacaSecretaría de las Culturas y Artes de Oaxaca

Men's Triqui clothing is used for special events. They use three pieces woven on a waist loom: Cotton folded over the shoulder, backpack and a red sash which is woven using the double-sided revealed weft technique.

On the wedding day, the groom's in-laws and godparents put these clothes on him. This clothing is mandatory when they receive public office.

The Triquis and the metamorphosis of butterflies (2023) by Secretaría de las Culturas y Artes de OaxacaSecretaría de las Culturas y Artes de Oaxaca

In the community they dance the Dance of the Little Bull: the little bull represents the Spaniard and the indigenous person carries the rapier, they dance from one side to the other, they cross each other and hit the rapiers with the objective of knocking down and breaking the horns.

The Triquis and the metamorphosis of butterflies, Secretaría de las Culturas y Artes de Oaxaca, 2023, From the collection of: Secretaría de las Culturas y Artes de Oaxaca
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The Triquis and the metamorphosis of butterflies, Secretaría de las Culturas y Artes de Oaxaca, 2023, From the collection of: Secretaría de las Culturas y Artes de Oaxaca
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Los Triquis y la metamorfosis de las mariposas (2023) by Secretaría de las Culturas y Artes de OaxacaSecretaría de las Culturas y Artes de Oaxaca

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