10 TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS OF QUINTANA ROO - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The traditions and customs of Quintana Roo are the result of the mixture of the culture of the Mayan civilization and the customs of the Spanish colonizers. Quintana Roo is one of the states that make up the United Mexican States. It is geographically located in the Southeast region of Mexico.

Consequently, it limits to the north with Yucatán and the Gulf of Mexico. To the south with the Bay of Chetumal and Belize. To the east with the Caribbean Sea, and to the west with Campeche and Yucatán.

The state of Quintana Roo is part of the Yucatan Peninsula, which is made up of Belize, Guatemala and three Mexican states (Yucatan, Quintana Roo and Campeche).

Therefore, most of the traditions and customs are shared with Yucatán and Campeche. An example of this would be the Jaranas, the Dance of the Pig's Head and the dances with ribbons.

Among the most outstanding traditions and customs of Quintana Roo are: the Maya Pax, the Hanal Pixán, the Guaranducha Cozumeleña, the Jaranas, the Fiestas de la Santa Cruz, the Feria del Cedral, the Dance of the Pig's Head, the Cozumel Carnival, among others.

Very popular customs and traditions of Quintana Roo

1- The Cozumel carnival

The Cozumel carnival is an event held in the city of San Miguel de Cozumel for 140 years. Therefore, it is considered one of the heritage events of Quintana Roo.

The Cozumel carnival has preserved expressions of historical value for the states of Yucatán, Campeche and Quintana Roo.

2- Hanal Pixán (Day of the Dead and Day of the Saints)

In Quintana Roo the Hanal Pixán is celebrated from October 31 to November 2. On October 31, deceased children are commemorated, November 1 is dedicated to the adult dead, and November 2 is dedicated to all Saints.

In commemoration of the dead they prepare an altar where they place water and salt (as a representation of the origin and the end of life), they also prepare a Mukbil Pollo (tamale stuffed with meat stew and corn broth) as the main dish.

During the Hanal Pixán it is common for people to wear typical clothing and paint their faces with skulls.

3- Cedral Fair

The Cedral Fair is part of the history of the Municipality of Cozumel and dates back to 1848.

The Fair originated from a promise made by Casimiro Cárdenas, a survivor of the massacre carried out by the Mayans in the town of Sabán, during the Caste War in 1847.

The promise arises when Casimiro Cárdenas wakes up after the massacre and sees that he has the corpses of his neighbors and relatives around him. At that moment he realizes that he has a cross in his hands and considers that he survived thanks to it.

For this reason, he promises that when he was safe he would celebrate the Feast of the Holy Cross every year. Shortly after, Casimiro arrives in Cozumel and the following year begins to fulfill his promise.

Currently the Fair focuses more on the commercial than on the religious. However, it is celebrated alongside the Feast of the Holy Cross.

4- Feast of the Holy Cross

The Fiesta de la Santa Cruz is a tradition of Quintana Roo that has its origin since 1848. It consists of a celebration where the Holy Cross is venerated, held from April 29 to May 3 in El Cedral, town of Cozumel municipality.

The celebration mixes the religious part of the Spanish with the traditions of the Maya. On the one hand it represents the Catholic faith, while for the Mayans it represents the four cardinal points (symbols venerated since before the arrival of the Spanish).

5- The Yucatecan Jaranas

It is a dance originating from the Yucatan state that is part of the culture of all the Mexican states that are members of the Yucatan Peninsula.

The dancers are accompanied by a musical ensemble that plays the following instruments: trumpets, clarinets, trombone, saxophone, double bass, timpani, and guiro.

The dance is performed in couples wearing traditional costumes. It consists of stomping to the sound of the music while performing turns with the arms raised, similar to the jota dancers.

The jaranas are held in most of the Fiestas of Quintana Roo, Yucatán and Campeche.

6- The Dance of the Ribbons

For its realization it is necessary that a group of people stand around a pole that has colored ribbons.

Later each person grabs a ribbon and they begin to spin to the sound of music, weaving the mast with the colored ribbons.

7- The Dance of the Pig's Head

For the performance of this dance, a young man is chosen who will be in charge of wearing the pig's head (previously adorned with the long colored ribbons) on his head.

Once the young man has the head of a pig, nine ladies and nine gentlemen come out. Each one grabs one of the colored ribbons and thus begins the dance to the sound of Mayan music (Maya Pax).

Originally the pig's head was real, it was seasoned and prepared at home before placing it on the young man's head. However, currently the pig's head is made with plastic or papier-mâché.

8- The Chicleros Dance

Dance that represents how chicleros (rude men who work in the jungle) had fun after their work day.

9- La Guaranducha Cozumeleña

It is a popular expression of the Municipality of Cozumel that consists of a satirical musical-theatrical representation. Usually performed during carnivals.

In the Guaranducha Cozumeleña, parodies are made about how the Spaniards treated black slaves.

10- El Maya Pax (Mayan Music)

The Maya Pax is a musical expression related to the religious practices of the Maya civilization.

Mayan music is performed with the following instruments: the bass drum, the violin and the snare drum. The Maya Pax is played in most of the festivals of Quintana Roo, such as: the Fiesta de la Purísima Concepción and the Fiesta de la Santa Cruz.

References

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