THE 5 MOST POPULAR TYPICAL TABASCO CRAFTS - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

Among the typical crafts of Tabasco are Centla crafts, embroidered strips, Tabasco jícara or ceramic pieces.

From very early on, Tabasco stood out as one of the states of Mexico that has best managed to disseminate its artisan culture. Culture that emerges as a result of the fusion of European customs with indigenous cultures around the 16th century.

Originally, Tabasco artisans, within what their creativity allowed them, made use of what they had at hand and were capable of manipulating in nature.

To this day, Tabasco artisans and creators still present in popular culture, make use of all possible raw materials.

Thus, they try to give life to various materials such as vegetable fibers, leather, ceramics or fabrics. Creativity is given by the heritage of the Olmec and Mayan cultures.

You may also be interested in the traditions of Tabasco or its culture.

Most outstanding typical crafts of the state of Tabasco

1- The handicrafts of Centla

Centla is a municipality bathed by several rivers and the Gulf of Mexico. Its municipal seat is the port city of Frontera.

Due to this maritime characteristic, a type of crafts arose around the raw material that is most abundant in the area, that is, shells, snails, shark teeth and jaws, wood, water lilies, shark and bovine skin.

Making use of these raw materials, you can find objects such as key rings, purses, shoes or bags.

2- The embroidered strips

As the name itself indicates, the embroidered strips are created through an embroidery made in “loin stitch”.

Very traditional in the municipality of Nacajuca, to make these embroideries possible, the artisans use needles, canevás and brightly colored threads.

The objects created following this procedure are very varied, from handbags, caps, brooms, hats, ribbons, leather belts, among others.

Traditionally, these embroidery, more particularly the so-called "embroidered bands", are placed every year as part of the decoration in all the municipalities that celebrate the Tabasco Fair.

3- Tabasqueña Jícara

The tabasco jícara became an artisan tradition since the times of the Mayans and Aztecs. Its main use was to serve and drink chocolate, made with cocoa and Tabasco pepper or allspice.

The name given, jícara, is originated due to the peel of the fruit of the tree from which the raw material -the jícaro- is obtained.

For the elaboration of the gourd, it is the artisan who decides the point of maturity of the fruit, since it will depend on the final size you want.

When the size is ideal and once dry, the craftsman creates a relief that can have different themes.

4- Ceramic

Ceramics, especially clay, are typical of Comalcalco. These handicrafts can produce both objects and household goods - vessels, plates, glasses and containers in general - or of a decorative type.

Thus, it is easy to find human figures carved in ceramic. This arises as a historical heritage of the archaeological creations still present in the region.

5- The traditional regional costumes

Tabasco is a state where there is a wide variety of traditional costumes and dresses. Some for men, others for women, some for gala occasions, others ordinary. Its preparation and use are part of the popular tradition.

A wide variety of fabrics are used, as well as combinations of colors and different motifs depending on the occasion in which the suit is used.

References

1. Artesanías de Tabasco, in Destinations México, programadestinosmexico.com.
2. "Tabasco: population and culture", Government of the State of Tabasco. (1993).
3. Tabasco, on History Channel, history.com.
4. State Institute of Culture, Tabasco, at iec.tabasco.gob.mx.
5. Tabasco popular art, in Unknown Mexico, mexicodesconocido.com.