Zoques: The people of the corn

Santa María Chimalapas

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!

Zoques – Santa María Chimalapas (2023) by Secretaría de las Culturas y Artes de OaxacaSecretaría de las Culturas y Artes de Oaxaca

Zoques (Santa María Chimalapas)

In the bowels of Oaxaca's mountain range, lies the jungle inhabited by "The people of corn": the Zoques, who recognize themselves as "Ang ́ pong", which means "those who speak the language".

Here the jungle is identity and the community takes care of it and respects it as great warriors.

Zoques – Santa María Chimalapas (2023) by Secretaría de las Culturas y Artes de OaxacaSecretaría de las Culturas y Artes de Oaxaca

The Zoques arrived from Guatemala 3,800 years ago and are said to have been the first culture to cultivate corn.

Zoques – Santa María Chimalapas (2023) by Secretaría de las Culturas y Artes de OaxacaSecretaría de las Culturas y Artes de Oaxaca

The huipil is red with five embroidered lines in yellow.

The woman wears a red skirt with vertical black and horizontal yellow lines.

The women's hairstyle is a pair of braids with yellow ribbon and they use filigree as jewelry.

Zoques – Santa María Chimalapas (2023) by Secretaría de las Culturas y Artes de OaxacaSecretaría de las Culturas y Artes de Oaxaca

The Chimalapas is the largest jungle in Mesoamerica and the Zoques are the masters of the mountain.

La gente del maíz (2003) by Secretaría de las Culturas y Artes de OaxacaSecretaría de las Culturas y Artes de Oaxaca

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
Explore more
Related theme
Crafted in Mexico
A journey through tradition, legacy, and knowledge of Mexican artisans
View theme
Google apps