8 CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS OF HERMOSILLO - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

Hermosillo is one of the communities with the greatest cultural wealth in Mexico, offering some of the traditional customs and activities that reach a national level.

Founded more than five hundred years ago, the city of Hermosillo was originally known as the settlement place of the Pima Indians and was called Santísima Trinidad del Pitic.

Explored by the Spanish in the 1500s, Sonora was transformed into an important colonial and mining district with the production of copper, gold, and silver.

Each of these traditions represents a consolidation of the identity of the inhabitants of this community belonging to the state of Sonora.

By practicing and participating in some of these local customs, the community manages to integrate in a positive way, connecting with its roots and cultivating the values ​​linked to a social structure that influences each of the generations that develop in this region.

The indigenous community of Sonora, made up of the Mayos, Yanquis, Seris, Tepocas, Primas, has left a great cultural heritage that continues to this day.

Since its founding in 1700, this Mexican city has experienced great economic growth, classifying it as one of the best cities to live in this country.12

Outstanding customs and traditions of Hermosillo

Tradition of the Pharisees

The celebration of the Pharisees takes place within the festivities of Holy Week. The Pharisees are one of the most important elements in Lent.

These are represented by young people and adults mainly who cover their faces with original masks. The masks are made within the town with leather and skins of different animals such as goats, cows and deer.

The Pharisees walk through the streets in the direction of the church expecting to receive some coin from the villagers. On Glory Saturday at eleven o'clock in the morning the Pharisees who are in the church are flogged, thus paying for their offenses.

Handicrafts

As in the entire state of Sonora, Hermosillo is famous for its cuts of meat. However, Coyotas are a traditional dessert that emerged in the 1950s.

This recipe is the result of the fusion of a Mexican and a Spanish recipe. The word coyota means "daughter of Indian and Spanish."

The original recipe consists of a flour tortilla filled with brown sugar. The ingredients with which the coyotas are made are wheat flour, salt, butter, sugar and piloncillos for the filling.

Coyotas are currently exported to Arizona, United States.

The Dance of the Deer or Mazoyiwua

Registered as one of the oldest dances in Mexico, it has great relevance from the anthropological point of view, since it dates from pre-Hispanic times.

The link between man and nature is represented through the personification of the deer, since this is one of the most relevant species for the indigenous communities of the time.

The representation consists of a man with a naked torso, covering his lower part with an overflow. A deer head is placed on the head and the individual's eyes are partially covered with a white cloth.

Throughout the ritual, the man shakes a pair of rattles or maracas with his hands.

Dance of the Pascola

The pascolas represent the hunters. This tradition extols the character and importance of the hunt as part of the Yankees' culture.

During the personification, the pascolas are barefoot, while on their legs they carry some bells that will sound continuously during the ritual.

In their hands, the characters carry bows and arrows, which they wave while performing different Yankee singers in the original dialect.

Matachin dances

It is a mestizo dance, which is practiced in Hermosillo and in some other regions of northern Mexico. It is the result of the adaptation of some of the dances performed by Europeans during the colonization.

This dance represents the victory of the Christians against the Moors. They carry a red rattle in their hands, and their dances are accompanied by the music of violins and guitars.

Expogan

During the months of April and May, Hermosillo becomes the headquarters of one of the most important cattle fairs in the country.

It is an opportunity for gastronomic and cultural exhibition in which renowned artists from all over the country participate.

This Livestock and Industrial Exhibition Fair offers access to entertainment and the most typical customs of the Hermosillo community, including games, food and drinks. This fair takes place on Boulevard de los Ganaderos. 5

The Pitic Festivities

During the month of May, a large number of artists make an appearance in the city of Hermosillo. Generally the different activities take place between May 26 to 31.

So far there have been 13 editions of the Pitic Festival, which aims to celebrate the founding of the city.

Initially it was called Fiestas del Pitic, but after the integration of new activities, its name was changed to Festival.

Its name is due to the fact that the city of Hermosillo was originally called Villa del Pitic, which referred to the union of the rivers in the Yankee dialect.

References

1. (nd). Hermosillo - Wikipedia. It was recovered on August 29, 2017 from en.wikipedia.org
2. (nd). Hermosillo - Visit Mexico. Recovered on August 29, 2017 from visitmexico.com
3. (2015, December 10). Learn about the origin and meaning of the Deer Dance. It was recovered on August 29, 2017 from aboutespanol.com
4. (nd). Mexican Dances - MATLACHINES. She recovered on August 29, 2017 from danzasmexicanas.com
5. (2017, May 21). Expogan Sonora 2017 Palenque Hermosilo 2017 - FAIRS OF MEXICO. It recovered on August 29, 2017 from fiestasdemexico.com
6. (nd). Festival del Pitic - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. It was recovered on August 29, 2017 from en.wikipedia.org.