The typical handicrafts of Chihuahua come from three different sources, depending on the cultural influences they present. They are divided into the Tarahumara, the Paquimé and the Mestiza.
The three types of crafts usually include clay, adobe and various types of fabrics among the materials used.
Chihuahua, with capital in the homonymous city, is one of the states that make up the United Mexican States.
According to the latest censuses, today the majority of the population is mestizo. However, there are still important indigenous populations. These bring great influence to artisan products.
The indigenous peoples that have most influenced the crafts of Chihuahua are the Tarahumara and the Paquimé culture.
The former, also called rarámuri (“running foot” in Spanish), are the first indigenous community in the state.
The Paquimé culture was very important in the area since 700 AD. Until the arrival of the Spanish.
In 1970 an artistic movement recovered part of the crafts that were made in the territories of this culture.
Based on the findings of the deposits, the ceramics of Mata Ortiz, a municipality near ancient Paquimé, were born.
You may also be interested in the traditions of Chihuahua or its history.
The 5 typical crafts of Chihuahua
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One of the specialties of the Tarahumara is the elaboration of crafts with wood. They use it in many, many areas, including the construction of musical instruments.
Among these instruments, the violins, also known as belorinis or raberis, stand out. They are usually used in religious ceremonies and are easy to find in craft stores in the state.
You can also find handcrafted wooden drums, with goatskin patches.
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Táscate wood is used to make these crafts, a tree that grows in the area. With this they make games, figures or vessels.
It is very common to find, for example, images of virgins carved in this wood.
3-
In the area where the Tarahumara still live, they continue to make baskets with the same method as their ancestors did centuries ago.
These baskets are made with pine needles, reeds and palm leaves, and are usually small in size.
It is a job done by women in the community. One of the characteristics of this product is that, if it gets wet a little every week, the smell of pine is preserved for a long time.
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Another product found in all the craft stores in the region are wooden and fabric dolls.
The usual thing is that they are made with ponderosa pine wood, which makes them very durable.
At first they were used as toys by girls, but today they are part of handicraft production.
The most typical are dressed in the traditional costume of the area: skirt, blouse and a headscarf.
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These crafts intend to recover the tradition of the Paquimé culture settled in the state of Chihuahua.
Currently the most important center is in the municipality of Mata Ortiz, where more than 300 artisans work.
Among the creations there is no repeating design, since all the works are made by hand.
The most typical ones usually have ocher and red colors and are decorated with geometric designs.
References
- Encyclopedia of the Municipalities and Delegations of Mexico. Chihuahua Obtained from century.inafed.gob.mx
- García Castillo, Julio. Mata Ortiz, the most delicate and fine ceramic. Obtained from elsouvenir.com
- World Cultures. Tarahumara. Retrieved from encyclopedia.com
- Gorney, Cynthia. Tarahumara. Recovered from ngm.nationalgeographic.com
- Mexico Travel. Shopping Mexico Handcrafts. Retrieved from mexico.us