The 10 most important traditions of the state of Veracruz

A review of the traditions of the Mexican state of Veracruz, with samples of its cultural mix.

Mexico is a country with a culture that, like other places in the American continent, mixes a melting pot of ethnic groups with influences from the Aztec, Mayan and Inca civilizations as well as those imported by the Spanish and Portuguese.

The state of Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave is one of the most interesting places in Mexico.. Both its capital, Xalapa-Enríquez, and its most populated city, with which it shares its name, are places where centuries-old traditions and customs are celebrated and carried out, in which the immaterial richness of the Mexican people can be observed.

Their colors, their dresses, the way they treat such a dark subject for Europeans as death, in which bright colors cannot be absent, are some of the identity symbols of both the Veracruz region and the country in which it is located.

Let's take a look at a sample of this fascinating culture by means of a review of the most important traditions of Veracruz..

10 traditions from the state of Veracruz

These are several traditions of Veracruz that characterize the cultural life of this state of Mexico.

1. Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe

This Veracruz celebration is celebrated on December 12 and commemorates the apparition of the Virgin on the hill of Tepeyac..

During the festivity, a replica of the Virgin made of cardboard and decorated with flowers is carried. Different collectives are in charge of carrying the figure to the church, accompanying her during the journey with chants and religious music. During the celebration you can even see one of Mexico's most typical symbols, the mariachis, who sing to the Virgin.

2. Feast of All the Dead

It lasts several days. It is a a time to pay homage to the dead and to spend more time with the family.. The dead are remembered, praying for them so that their souls reach heaven or the world of the dead.

Altars are built with offerings to those who are no longer with us, placing skulls decorated in very striking ways, dead flowers and other decorations. The deceased are also visited in the cemeteries.

The celebration of this holiday stands out for being very different from how the dead are honored in Europe. This is due to the influence of the Aztec culture in the region.The Aztecs celebrated deaths in a more festive and colorful way than in the old continent.

3. Dance of the Voladores de Papantla (Flyers of Papantla)

This is a a ceremony in which the participants dance and try to climb a 30-meter high pole to jump from the highest end to jump from the highest point with the only safeguard being some ropes to hang from it.

Five people participate, of which four jump and one remains on top of the pole dancing, playing the flute and the drum.

4. Peanut chicken

Gastronomy cannot be missing as an identifying element of every culture. The encacahuatado chicken is a traditional dish of Veracruz, and basically consists of a breast of the bird with a sauce made of peanuts..

Nuts are a very popular ingredient among Veracruz people to add a touch of creaminess to sauces.

5. Carnival in Veracruz

Carnival is a must in every Latin American culture and Veracruz is a reference in this celebration.

Known as the most joyful Carnival in the world, the one celebrated in this state lasts 9 days and has 6 big parades with more than 30 floats. has 6 large parades with more than 30 floats, as well as multiple events such as concertsand multiple events such as concerts and social events. The mixture between Mesoamerican, European and African is noticeable in the region's carnival, where its people are dressed in colorful costumes dancing to rhythms reminiscent of Afro-Cuban rhythms. Although the Catholic Church, when it tried to evangelize the region, disapproved of this pagan festivity, it did not prevent it from surviving to the present day.

Today, the Veracruz carnival begins with the begins with the "burning of the bad mood" and ends with the burial of "Juan Carnaval"..

With the passage of time it became a little more elaborate, with dances for more select groups, without forgetting the more popular celebrations.

6. Spring Festival

Normally, it is celebrated in places where there are vestiges of Totonaca culture, which was characterized by being very advanced in terms of astronomy. People dance in places such as El Tajin, Papantla, to nourish themselves with the energy of the rays of the spring sun..

This type of dances are also performed in other places of the state, such as Cempoala or Santiago de Tuxla.

7. Festivities of San Mateo de Naolinco

This festival is celebrated in the municipality of Naolinco, and pays homage to San Mateo Apostle. It begins on September 19, although the most important day is September 21..

Before the 21st arrives, the neighbors get together to share cookies, tamales, sandwiches, coffee and other typical foods of the region. In the morning of that day the procession begins.. In addition, as a European import, the fights between Moors and Christians are represented as a commemoration of the conquest of the Iberian peoples against the Muslims.

8. Feast of the Candelaria

This is a widespread celebration in the Mexican state, whose origins are not entirely clear and is explained by two legends.

One of the legends says that this celebration is based on the celebration of the indigenous people towards their goddess Chalchiuhtlicuawho was the deity of waters, such as rivers, seas and lakes. It is said that with the arrival of the Spaniards, the indigenous pantheon was replaced by Christian saints and virgins, being the Virgen de la Candelaria who was in charge of supplanting the goddess of the waters, since this virgin is the protector of the fishermen.

The second legend maintains that the origin of this celebration is that this Virgin, of Andalusian origin, protected and took care of the sailors who lived on the island of Tlaxcotialapan.

Whatever it is that has made Veracruzanos celebrate this feast, there is no doubt of the great influence of the Spanish on the ancestral Totonaca culture.

9. La Rama

La Rama is a Christmas tradition that takes place between December 16 and 24. It consists of processions in which participants carry leafy branches or sticks decorated with paper lanterns and candles, as well as orange peels, colored paper chains and religious figures. They go through the streets stopping at every house to ask for some alms, in the form of candy, money or some other type of cooperation.

This tradition arises from the mixture of indigenous, Afro-Cuban and Spanish influences of the region.. The ancient people who settled in what is now Veracruz celebrated in December a feast in which they carried a branch called versúchil, which represented the renewal of nature.

10. The lost child

According to the Gospel of Luke, Jesus, when he was 12 years old, got lost in Jerusalem during the Passover festivities. He was searched for three days until he was found in the Temple of the city. This story was used by Fray Junipero de Serra in the 18th century when he went to evangelize the towns of the Mexican region.It has become a well-established tradition in Veracruz over time.

On December 7 at 7:00 p.m. a whistle blows to announce the beginning of the festivity. The streets are left in darkness, with the only illumination of the candles that mark the way to the church. The light will serve as a The light will guide the child Jesus so that he can arrive safe and sound to the temple..

Bibliographical references:

• Debroise, O. (2005). Mexican escape. A journey through photography in Mexico. Gustavo Gili.
• García de León, A. (2016). El mar de los deseos. FCE, Mexico.