The Spirit of the Ancestors
A glimpse of the technique that the women of the Döngu artisan community use to feed their families and keep the history of their traditions alive
Retrato de la artesana Josefina Pascual Cayetano del Taller Döngu (2025-10-13) by Mario Vázquez SosaMinistry of Culture of the Government of Mexico
The mother tongue of embroidery
"I grew up speaking only Otomi," says craftswoman Josefina Pascual Cayetano. Her dolls speak the same language. Every stitch is a word, each color a phrase that can't be translated.
Retrato de la artesana Josefina Pascual Cayetano del Taller Döngu (2025-10-13) by Mario Vázquez SosaMinistry of Culture of the Government of Mexico
Spanish came late
At age 12, Josefina went to Mexico City unable to speak Spanish. In the store, she waited silently for someone to translate bar soap. Today, her hands embroider what her tongue learned late.
Retrato de la artesana Ma. De la Luz Gregorio Pascual mostrando una pieza del Taller Döngu (2025-10-13) by Mario Vázquez SosaMinistry of Culture of the Government of Mexico
The guiding star
Tzuhuo, or star in Otomi. Every embroidered piece begins with a star, which is its center, its guide. That's where the branches spring from; the paths of embroidery that tell ancient stories.
Retrato de las muñecas Donxu elaboradas por el Taller Döngu (2025-10-13) by Mario Vázquez SosaMinistry of Culture of the Government of Mexico
Little birds carry messages
Embroidered birds are not just decoration; they're messengers. In Otomi, every bird has a name and meaning. They fly on the skirts of dolls carrying silent words.
Muñecas Donxu de mujeres y sus hijas en trajes típicos (2025-10-13) by Mario Vázquez SosaMinistry of Culture of the Government of Mexico
Flowers that bloom in Otomi
"Flowers are what we've used to live," explains Carmen Pascual Rafael. Each embroidered petal is a word from the countryside, from the environment that surrounds them and gives them strength.
Detalle de bordados elaborados por el Taller Döngu (2025-10-13) by Mario Vázquez SosaMinistry of Culture of the Government of Mexico
Woven grammar
The fabric from the Donxu workshop is not your average cross-stitch. It's lomio, a braided Otomi technique. Like the syntax of a language, every stitch is linked, forming lasting phrases that endure for generations.
Retrato de la artesana Maura Pascual Cayetano del Taller Döngu mostrando un bordado (2025-10-13) by Mario Vázquez SosaMinistry of Culture of the Government of Mexico
Striking colors
"The bright colors convey that joy," explains Maura Pascual Cayetano. Regardless of mood, the embroidery speaks in vibrant tones: it's the intonation of the visual Otomi.
Colección de muñecas Donxu del Taller Döngu (2025-10-13) by Mario Vázquez SosaMinistry of Culture of the Government of Mexico
Readings with no translation
Some things can only be said through embroidery. There are concepts that exist in Otomi that Spanish cannot name. The dolls hold those secrets in their folds.
Retrato de la artesana Josefina Pascual Cayetano del Taller Döngu (2025-10-13) by Mario Vázquez SosaMinistry of Culture of the Government of Mexico
A living dictionary
"My dolls are wordless Otomi," Josefina concludes. As long as there are hands that embroider, the language will live on in every thread, in a textile dictionary that resists time and memory's failings.
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