Huasteca Culture: Origin, Traditions and Main Characteristics

The Huasteca culture represents a group of indigenous peoples descendants of the Mayans who settled in the coastal region of the Gulf of Mexico. All this territory is known as the Huasteca region. This region is made up of the current states of Tamaulipas, Hidalgo, Querétaro, Veracruz, Puebla and San Luis Potosí.

Despite being recognized as a whole, there is no unified Huastec culture. In the region the teenek ethnic group, the nahuas, the pames and a large number of mestizo groups are located. All p they come from a common trunk but present certain cultural differences.

Huasteca statue

The teenek can be found mostly in the municipalities of Aquismón, Tanlajás, Tampacán, Ciudad Valles, Huehuetlán, San Antonio and Tancanhuitz de Santos. For their part, the Nahuas are based in Tamazunchale, Axtla de Terrazas, Xilitla, San Martin Chalchicuautla and Coxcatlán. And the pames are located in the municipality of Tamasopo.

The most numerous and important ethnic group is the teenek , word that is translated as"people from here". They live mostly in the area of ​​San Luis Potosí. In this state is a good part of the natural wonders that characterize this indigenous culture. There you can also appreciate its most vast traditions, among these its typical clothing.

Origin and history

First settlements

The archaeological evidences estimate that the Huastec culture settled in the region of the Gulf of Mexico between 1500 a. C. and 900 a. C. It is also believed that this settlement is the result of migrations made by the Mayan peoples.

In pre-colonial times, the Huastec settlements were populated by various groups. In the south and southwest were Huastecs, Tepehuas, Otomies and Totonacs. To the north and northwest, Nahuas, Guachichiles, Pames and Chichimecas lived together.

The region was known by the name of Xiuhcoac , or"turquoise snake". Thus, all these towns conformed what was known as the Huastec culture.

Aztec period

From 1454, under the command of Moctezuma, the Aztec people began the conquest of the Huasteca region. The wars continued with the following Aztec rulers Axayácatl, Tizoc and Ahuizotl. The Aztec triumph was completed in 1506.

From that date all the Huastec territory was under Aztec rule. A process of intercultural influence began then. The customs, ideas and modes of expression began to change.

Colonial period

After the fall of Tenochtitlan (1521), the Spaniards began the colonization of the peoples of the Gulf Coast. Hernán Cortés sent expeditions to subdue them, but they were met with violence from the native peoples. This forced Cortes himself and his army of Indian allies to attack them in October 1522.

As of that year the Huastec zone succumbed to the Spanish Empire. As a first step, Cortés established settlements and distributed large tracts of land among his officers.

These, disappointed to find no gold or silver mines, began to enslave the natives. The slave trade was prohibited by the Spanish Crown. However, this did not prevent them from being sold and shipped to the Caribbean. This almost depopulated the entire Huasteca region.

This situation lasted until the year 1527. In that year, the Crown expropriated the lands distributed by Cortés and new Spaniards then took control over them. The treatment of the indigenous people improved and the Huasteca culture began to recover. This process was maintained during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

Main characteristics

Cranial deformation and lobar perforation

In its beginnings, the Huastec culture was characterized by the practice of cranial deformation for ritual reasons. The lobes were also pierced to decorate them. As ornaments they used mainly shell and bone.

Nakedness

Although it has not been confirmed yet, it is presumed that nudity was a common practice in the Huastec culture. This belief is based on information from the sculptures found at the excavation sites.

Multilanguage

Currently, throughout the geographical area known as the Huasteca region, at least three indigenous languages ​​can be recognized. In Veracruz, and even in San Luis Potosí, Nahuatl (Aztec language) is spoken.

The pame dialect is used in the mountainous border region of San Luis Potosí and Querétaro. The huasteco (Mayan language) itself is spoken in San Luis Potosí, north of Veracruz and in Tamaulipas.

Division of labour

At present, it is common for work to be divided according to gender. Women tend to do household chores, including preparing food and making and repairing clothes. They also help with the harvest and provide care for the children.

For their part, men clean and plant fields, care for animals, build and maintain houses. They also weave fishing nets, hunt, fish, market their products and make sugar bread.

Economy

farming

The most important subsistence economic activity is agriculture. Its main crops are corn, chili and beans. In addition, they cultivate pumpkins, onions, tomatoes, papayas, citrus fruits, tobacco and cilantro.

The sale of agricultural surpluses complements its economy. Among the main cash crops are corn, sugar cane and coffee. They also engage in fishing and raising turkeys, chickens, pigs, and cattle.

Crafts

They also dedicate themselves to making crafts. All commercial operations are carried out in weekly markets organized throughout the region.

Industrial production

With respect to industrial production, in the Huasteca region sugar bread is manufactured. To prepare this product, squeeze the stems of sugar cane and extract their juice.

This liquid is boiled until it becomes a thick syrup that is then poured into molds and allowed to cool. Then it is wrapped in sugar cane leaves.

Traditions and customs

The Huastec culture is one of the few cultures that has maintained its prehispanic traditions and customs.

Xantolo

One of the most important festivals of the Huastecan culture is the"Xantholo"or festival of the dead, which is celebrated in November. On the first of November candles are made with incense and prayers on altars with photos of the deceased. The next day the tombs of the dead relatives are adorned with flowers.

It is believed that the deceased spend all November with their relatives. Because of that, on the last day of the month the Huastecas adorn the altar with lots of fresh fruits and flowers to dismiss their deceased.

Rites of healing

Another pre-Hispanic custom is the practice of healing rites. They are carried out by healers. They come into contact with baatsik , supernatural beings that steal the shadow or soul of humans

Thus, the healer heals the person by recovering the soul. According to custom, only language is used in the rite teenek because the baatsik They do not understand another language.

After the recovery of the soul, the patient is reincorporated by therapeutic cleansing. These consist of rubbing the patient with branches, eggs and live chickens before the images of the Catholic saints placed on an altar. In this part of the ritual, prayers and prayers are performed in the Spanish language. The healing ritual lasts three days.

Location

Traditionally it is accepted that the area in which the Huasteca culture developed includes Hidalgo, San Luis Potosí, Veracruz and Tamaulipas. This culture was concentrated along the Pánuco River and on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.

In its beginnings, the territory that occupied the Huastec culture extended from the Soto la Marina river to the Cazones river. It also covered a mountainous region belonging to the Sierra Madre Oriental system and covered a low and flat region that reached the coast.

Geographically, the Huasteca region can be divided into 4 zones: the coastal area, the coastal plain, the plain and the mountain. Two of the third parts of the zone of the Huasteca are formed by extensive plains, and a third part by mountain. Each of these zones has its climate, special flora and fauna.

The coast is composed of low sedimentary lands, where estuaries, dunes and marshes are found. Parallel to the coast runs a narrow strip of land: the coastal plain.

The plain extends to the foothills of the mountain ranges and includes plateaus, hills and valleys. The mountain area is formed by the Sierra Madre Oriental, part of the Tamaulipas and San Carlos mountains.

Clothing

At present the typical dress of Huastec man consists of trousers and white shirt. The pants are adjusted to the waist by means of a girdle.

They can go barefoot or wear sandals (leather sandals with rubber tire sole). They also often wear a red handkerchief tied around their neck, a straw hat on their head and a zapupe fiber backpack (agave fiber).

For their part, women wear calico skirts (quilt fabric) or synthetic cloth. Her blouses have colorful motifs, embroidered with Mexican roses and trims on the cuffs.

They wear a headdress of colored yarn braided with hair. If married, the stamens are red and orange. The single women use green and pink, and the widows can choose the color.

In special celebrations the woman is wearing the quexquémitl (garment to cover the torso) with embroidery. The shoes are sandals, and as an ornament they use golden necklaces and earrings. They complement their clothes with hand-embroidered backpacks with native animal and vegetable motifs.

Feeding

The basis of feeding is corn. With this cereal they make tortillas, bocoles, tamales, bolimes and zacahuil, among other dishes.

Tortillas

The tortillas are very thin masses with which they make the enchiladas. This dish is eaten with beans, eggs and chili. The bocoles, some thick tortillas, are stuffed with beans, cheese or meat.

Tamales

The tamales are made with corn dough, chili and meat. This type of bun is wrapped in three types of leaves: corn, banana and papatla (a variety of banana).

The largest tamales are called bolimes and, preferably, they are consumed during ceremonies and rituals.

Zacahuil

Another type of tamal, the zacahuil, is cooked in a large oven. This is made with corn masa and the mixture of several chiles. In the filling chicken, beef or pork is used.

The zacahuil is about 40 centimeters long. Before baking, wrap in banana leaves or papatla. It is only consumed in social gatherings, for festive reasons or on market days.

With respect to beverages, members of the Huastec culture have a preference for coffee, fruit water and atoles.

Major cities

Veracruz, state of Veracruz

In the state of Veracruz the most important population centers are the city of Tuxpan and its port. This area has an important archaeological zone: that of the Teayo Castle.

Pachuca de Soto, state of Hidalgo

In this Huasteca region, the following population settlements stand out: Huautla, Huazalingo, Huejutla de Reyes, Jaltocán, San Felipe Orizatlan, Xochiatipan and Yahualica.

Puebla de Zaragoza, state of Puebla

In the Huasteca area, Mena, Pantepec, Venustiano Carranza, Jalpan, Tlaxco, Tlacuilotepec, Xicotepec de Juárez, Pahuatlán and Naupan centers can be mentioned.

San Luis Potosí, state of San Luis Potosí

It is integrated by the following important population center: Matehuala, Tamasopo, Green River, Tamuin, Ciudad Valles, Tamazunchale, Cerro de San Pedro, Vanegas, Ciudad del Maiz, San Vicente Tancuayalab and Charcas.

Religion

The Huastec culture continues to practice their ancestral beliefs, with some traits of Catholic influence. Their gods are found in three planes of the universe: the celestial, the earthly and the underworld.

According to their beliefs, in nature live supernatural beings who are their guardians. If these beings do not obtain the respect they demand, they manifest themselves in health problems or family misfortunes.

Importance of sculpture

The religious structure of the Huastecos was reflected in the sculpture. These deities were represented with special garments and ornaments that showed in which nature they exercised their power.

Thus, a sculpture with a headdress that included rays of the sun, peaks of sacrifice and signs of the calendar was associated with the sun god.

Also, the fertility of the earth was deified in the form of a woman (Ixcuina) with large breasts wearing a conical cap.

On the other hand, the deities of the underworld were represented as sculptures adorned with skeletal representations, bulging eyes and in the process of giving birth.

Ceremonial centers

The Huastec culture built its ceremonial centers within a pyramidal structure. These stepped pyramids were adorned with statues and pottery. Its architecture was very simple.

A characteristic of its construction were the circular plants and the rounded corners. Its main ceremonial center was that of the city of Tamuín (San Luis Potosí).

In the 1930s, during excavations in Vinasco and Huichapa (Hidalgo State), centers with the common Huaxtec characteristic were found. The buildings had their peculiar circular plan and the conical shape.

In Tamposoque (San Luis Potosí) these types of centers were also found. The distribution of the architectural works of the work was oriented towards the setting sun. In this way, the builders sought the harmonic vision of the sacred sites.

Art

Among the artistic works of the Huastecan culture are the vessels and sculptures. The Huastec sculptures were mostly large male and female figures carved in sandstone. In the same way, carvings of animals like snakes and birds were made.

In his art stand out pots, game stones and platforms tubes. Often, these items were made with shells and shaped like human heads.

Parties

Among the main festivities of the Huastecan culture are those of the patron saints, that of San José (March 19) and that of San Isidro (May 15).

Other important festivals are Santiago Apóstol (July 25), San Agustín (August 28) and San Miguel (September 29), New Year and Day of the Dead.

These fi les are started from the day before with fireworks. In these celebrations diverse dances and music are practiced. The dances include the ritual dance, the cumbia of northern Mexico and the huapango huasteco.

Tzacam are

At Tzacam are , ritual dance, performers wear colored ribbons on their heads and wear a mirror on their foreheads.

The wands

In The Wands, men wear bells on their legs and colored ribbons during the dance.

The Malinche

La Malinche is also practiced, which is a dance in which men are disguised as women.

The red king

Finally, in the dance of the red king both men and women dance concentric circles in the opposite direction.

References

1. Conaway, W. J. (2005). Driving Adventure in the Mexican Huasteca. Papelandia Publishing.
2. Nash, M. (2016, March 21). Middle American Indian. Taken from britannica.com.
3. Solís Olguín, F. (2006). The Huastecos. Mexican Archeology , No. 79, pp. 28-31.
4. Countries and their culture. (s / f). Nahua of the Huasteca - Economy. Taken from everyculture.com.
5. Ariel de Vidas, A. (2014). Nurturing sociability in the Nahua and teenek worlds (Huasteca veracruzana, Mexico). Anthropology of food . Taken from journals.openedition.org.
6. Directorate of Libraries of the Universidad Veracruzana. (s / f). Huasteca Culture. Taken from web.archive.org.
7. Gallardo Arias, P. (2004). Huastecos of San Luis Potosí. Mexico: UNDP.
8. Avila, A.; Bathes, B and Cervantes, A. (s / f). The Huastecos of San Luis Potosí. Taken from colsan.edu.mx.
9. Unknown Mexico (s / f). Cities and towns of the Huasteca. Taken from mexicodesconocido.com.mx.
10. Torres, G. (2013). Encyclopedia of Latin American Popular Music. California: ABC-CIL.
11. UNAM Social Research Institute. (s / f). Huastecos, ethnographic information. Taken from ru.iis.sociales.unam.mx.