- Party in honor of "Señor Santiago"
- The faithful departed
- Our Father Jesus
- The Holy Cross
- Party in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe
- References
The main festivals and ceremonies of the Otomí people are the festivals that pay tribute to “Señor Santiago”, the Faithful Departed, Our Father Jesus, and in honor of the Holy Cross and the Virgin of Guadalupe.
The Otomí is an indigenous people that lives in central Mexico, being the fifth largest indigenous people in the country.
The term Otomí descends from Nahuatl and means "who walks with arrows" or "bird arrow". They were the first settlers of the Tula Valley.
Their traditions and customs are deeply rooted and are fundamentally related to the Catholic religious calendar and for the benefit of the crops. Its main festivals and ceremonies are:
Party in honor of "Señor Santiago"
It is the most important festival of the Otomí people and takes place on July 24 and 25.
The celebration begins with a mass. An agricultural and craft fair is held that culminates with a banquet.
It is customary to organize dances, among them the so-called Palomo dance.
The origin of the festival took place at a time when rains were scarce, so the residents gathered for a collective prayer to "Señor Santiago."
The faithful departed
It is an ancestral tradition and is celebrated from October 31 to November 2.
According to the natives, the world is divided into two parts: the upper part, where men live, ruled by the Sun; and the lower one, the underworld, place of the gods and immortal beings, but also of those who have died.
On those days, the visit of the souls of the deceased is expected, who come to enjoy the offerings, taking the essence of the flowers, food, drinks and fruits.
They carry out ceremonies and make small altars adorned with candles, photographs of the deceased and religious images.
Our Father Jesus
It takes place on the third Sunday of January.
Before January 1, a novena is held, accompanied by activities, highlighting the "compound streets", which consists of decorating the streets.
Dances are also performed, and at night fireworks are performed along with the traditional “fair dance”.
The Holy Cross
The purpose of the festival is to venerate the Holy Cross on May 4.
The town of Bernal is the place for the celebration, with hundreds of pilgrims arriving since May 3.
Fifty men participate in a line called "staggers", carrying the cross from hand to hand, until they reach the top of the Peña de Bernal, and then lower it to the town and celebrate.
The feast of the Holy Cross is part of the Places of Memory and Living Traditions, inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Unesco in 2009.
Party in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe
His sanctuary is located in Guanajuato on the Calzada de Guadalupe.
On the night of December 11, the churches perform religious ceremonies and songs to give the mañanitas to the Virgin on December 12.
The boys dressed as "inditos" and the girls with bead necklaces, braids and colored ribbons, celebrate with traditional dances and regional songs.
They accompany fireworks, mechanical games and popular markets.
References
- State Council for the Integral Development of Indigenous Peoples. Ministry of Social Development. Retrieved on November 21, 2017. cedipiem.edomex.gob.mx
- Altar of the dead Otomí in the National Museum of Anthropology. Retrieved on November 22, 2017. inah.gob.mx
- Party in honor of Señor Santiago. Retrieved on November 22, 2017. /sic.gob.mx
- Otomí-Chichimecas put the Santa Cruz in Peña de Bernal. Retrieved on November 23, 2017. inah.gob.mx
- FERRO, Luis. Ai´ se se: image and guadalupanismo otomí and chichimeca jonaz. Retrieved on November 23, 2017. redalyc.org