Hi!, this is the first edition of news from Chiapas. I hope to keep you informed with the latest news in the mexican State of Chiapas. This section will be updated at least twice a month, so come back again soon to get the latest information.
Long time a go Tuxtla was inhabited by indigenous people called zoques. The zoque people had many traditions, outstanding amongst them was the Altars for the Dead. The tradition of these Altars are a form of saying that our dead loved ones occupy a sacred place in our lifes and hence in the Altars themselves.
An Altar is embellished by many objects and offerings, each one has different meanings. Here are some of these meanings:
The portrait of the deceased, means that its soul shall visit us on November the 2nd. (All Saints Day). The skulls made of sugar, are an allusion to the ever present dead. El copal is used so its smoke (incense) cleanses the place of evil spirits. The flowers embellish the altar while the soul of the dead stay with us. The water is for the spirits to refresh themselves after their long journey to the world of the living. The food is for the soul delight. By doing this we may receive their blessings.
In the Altars we can put all kind of food. In Chiapas we put tamales chiapanecos, pan de muerto (bread of the dead), sweets, and whatever was the deceased favorite pleasure. The Altar is also adorn with papel picado (a very delicate paper with carved figures on it). All this goes over a white table cloth and with the flower of the dead (the Zempoasuchil).
One of the many traditional sweets in this holiday are the pumpkins boiled with panela. This sweet is also placed in the Altar. The Tequila is also a traditional item for the Altars.
All this form part of one of the greatest traditions of Tuxtla (and Mexico) in these holidays of All Saints Day - El Día de los Muertos.
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