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Nicole's
Travelogues and Budget Travel Tips..
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CHAMULA & ZINACANTAN, MEXICO
San Juan Chamula
San Juan Chamula, a Tzotzil-speaking community, is the largest Maya township of Chiapas with a population of over 40,000. Chamula is inhabited by the Tzotziles who speak Tzotzil, a language of the Maya family. The main agricultural products include corn, beans, potatoes, and cabbage.
The main tourist draw here is the church, St. John the Baptist which is disconnected from the Diocese because residents don't want priests in the church. Inside you'll find a thick layer of incense in the air, fresh pine needles on the floor, and hundreds of lit candles stuck to the floor. Catholic Saint statues are in glass cases along the sides of the church, and residents are scattered about chanting and performing various types of rituals. Zinacantan
For centuries, the Tzotzil’s of Zinacantan have controlled the only source of salt in the Chiapas Highlands. Before the Spanish Conquest, the merchants traded the salt for amber, cacao, and quetzal feathers from the Chiapas lowlands.
Zinacantan weavers are known for their use of bright reds, pinks, purples, and blues. Most of the weavings are done by the women with waist-looms (as seen pictured below left). |
San Juan Chamula and Zinacantan are two highland villages and home of the Tzotzil people (descendants of the ancient Mayans). Each village has a distinctive highland dress as well as a weekly market and numerous festivals honouring their patron saint and other special religious days. Visitors should respect the local traditions and customs and be especially sensitive when taking photographs. San Juan Chamula is located 10 km from San Cristobal de las Casas. There is a Sunday and a secondary market on Saturday in the San Juan Chamula central square. There is a Sunday in Zinacantan center, a Saturday market in Nachig and a Tuesday market in Joigelito. The Tzotzil language (spoken in Zinacantan, San Juan Chamula, and other communities) is very different from Spanish. Here are some vocabulary examples: |
Religion is a mixture of Catholism and native Tzotzil. They believe that the world is a cube supported by 4 columns and surrounded by water. Gods are considered as inhabitants of the moon, heaven, and mother sun. 
Zinacantan is a Tzotzil Maya village outside of San Cristobal. Zinacantan is known for its hothouse flowers - which are sold and used in their own celebrations. 
