Villa de Zaachila
Villa de Zaachila
Zaachila | |
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Town and UTC-5 (Central) | |
Postal code (of seat) | 71250 |
Villa de Zaachila is a town and municipality in Oaxaca, Mexico, 6 km (3.7 mi) from Oaxaca City.[1] It is part of the
Zaachila is famous for its Thursday open air markets, which spreads over much of the center of town and has been a tradition since pre-Hispanic times. It is home to a mostly unexplored archeological site and is known for a dance called the Danza de los Zancudos, or Dance of the Stilts.[5] The official name is Villa de Zaachila (Town of Zaachila). The name Zaachila is from the Zapotec language and means "large leaf of the purslane (Portulaca oleracea)".[2]
History
After the fall of Monte Alban, the Valley of Oaxaca was divided into a number of city-states. They shared a religious center, Mitla, where the deities of the underworld were venerated. Late in the 13th century, the ruler of the Zaachila city-state began to grow in power to dominate much of the surrounding valley.[6] Starting from around 1400, there are five known rulers of the "Zaachila yoo" or "house of Zaachila."[2][3] These rulers are named Zaachila I, Zaachila II and Zaachila III, Cosijoeza and Coijopij. The names of the first three probably come from the fact that these lords are depicted in codices without names or at least without legible names. The last two were alive during the Spanish Conquest and the last, Coijopij, is depicted in the Lienzo de Guevea in Spanish dress on a Spanish style throne.[3]
The territory of these Zapotecs was considered vulnerable since the
The last two rulers of the Zaachila Zapotecs were
Since the
There have been a number of confrontations between supporters of the two governments since 2006.[10] The largest occurred in 2008, when there was a confrontation between APPO and supporters of municipal president Noé Pérez Martínez. The governor of Oaxaca, Ulises Ruiz Ortiz was scheduled to appear in the town on a tour but opponents of the visit began to block streets. Supporters of Perez Martinez countered, and the father of the municipal president was accused of firing a shot towards the crowd.[10] However, most confrontation between the two factions has come in the form of graffiti and political posters.[4]
Another legacy of the events of 2006 is Radio Zaachila (
Author Peter Gelderloos considers the current governmental situation to be a partial example of a functioning anarchist society.[16]
The town
Zaachila has considerable cultural wealth with native music, dance, gastronomy and market days filled with flavors and colors, whose traditions have been preserved for generations.[5] Many houses in this area still have wood stoves and/or a small fireplace in which food is cooked in the embers.[17] Zaachila Zapotec is spoken in the town.[18]
The town is formed by ten neighborhoods called San Pedro, San Pablo, San José, San Sebastián, San Jacinto, Del Carmen, Soledad, La Purísima, La Virgen and Del Niño. Each has its own patron saint and corresponding festival. These festivals are coordinated each year by a formal committee which includes a president, secretary and other positions.
Just outside the town is its railroad station, built in the early 20th century when it was the Ferrocarril Agrícola de Oaxaca (Agricultural Railroad of Oaxaca). It is the oldest rail line in the Valley of Oaxaca, which was ceded to the Ferrocarril Mexicano del Sur in 1918.[22]
The Día de Plaza
The Thursday Día de Plaza (tianguis), or outdoor market, is Zaachila's weekly main event, which attracts people from various parts of the Valley of Oaxaca, many of whom are Zapotec-speaking peoples from the rural areas. The stalls spread for blocks below the archeological site and the main church. This market tradition dates back to pre-Hispanic times and has changed very little since then.[5][23] This market is divided into three sections. The first is called by the Zapotec name "Logueguindan," which means "plaza of the people of the hills,"[17] and is mostly dedicated to firewood and charcoal for use during the week. This market is located at the entrance to the town, and much of this is from the ocote tree which has a distinctive odor.[5][24] This firewood is obtained from the surrounding hills by native Zapotecs and sold by women, with many of the transactions occurring in the Zapotec language. In addition to firewood, they may offer fruits and vegetables as well. The wood market also sells farming implements such as yokes for oxen. To bring the wood home, there is a service where blue carts pulled by donkeys or horses carry purchases. Although the market has existed for many years, only recently has it been formally organized with an administrator.[17]
The second section is dedicated to the sale of animals such as goats, pigs, sheep, cattle and others. The third section is on the main square proper with a variety of products from the region such as foodstuffs and local prepared foods such as "capirotadas," snacks made with chickpeas, nut cakes, sweet breads, candies such as tamarind balls and more.[5] Other highlights include the scarlet-red pitacaya fruit and a foamy tan drink called "tejate," which is a corn based drink flavored with chocolate, rose petals or ground mamey seeds, sweetened with brown sugar juice and honey.[23] Baskets and pottery are sold for household use.[24]
Archeological site
The
Dance of the Zancudos
The Dance of the Zancudos originated in the San Pedro neighborhood over 100 years ago and is one of the few places the dance can still be found. The origin of the Dance of the Zancudos is in a promise the inhabitants of Zaachila made to Saint Peter. The story behind it states that an old man encountered an apparition of Saint Peter who asked the community build a church in his name. The apparition appeared each day until it was captured by the local people and enclosed in a small church. Guards were posted at the entrance with rifles and machetes. However, the next day, it was discovered that the saint was no longer there, and he appeared again to the old man who had originally seen him, and indicated that God had sent him to protect the village. Eight days remained until the feast of Saint Peter, and the saint asked that the villagers form pairs on stilts to dance. On the feast day, the men danced on stilts while the women surrounded them with candles and incense. The dancers arrived at the foot of a hill where an image of the saint was found, which was brought to the San Pedro neighborhood where a church was constructed for it.[5]
José Mendoza is the captain of the Zancudo group of the San Pedro neighborhood, and has spent about forty years recruiting dancers and training them. This includes teaching how to make the stilts made from ocote wood. These stilts measure two meters long and have a "foot" fastened by wire and rope. Recruited dancers are boys from 12 to 14 years of age and are trained for two months after they make a pledge to Saint Peter. At first, the boys balance themselves with safety ropes on their stilts. Only males are permitted to dance, with some wearing women's masks. Performances can extend for hours, during which small gifts are distributed among the spectators from baskets. The dancers are accompanied by musical groups, "chinas Oaxaqueñas" and "monos de calenda." These dancers perform the strenuous performance on the feast day of Saint Peter as well as at the Guelaguetza of Oaxaca and other dance festivals in Mexico.[5]
The municipality
As municipal seat, the town of Villa de Zaachila is the local governing authority for 25 other named communities,[26] covering an area of 54.86 km2.[2] Just under half of the municipal population of 28,003 lives in the town proper,[26] and about 2,317 people speak an indigenous language. The municipality borders the municipalities of San Raymundo Jalpan, San Pedro la Reforma, Hacienda de Tlanichico y Noriega, Trinidad Zaachila, San Pablo la Raya and Manteón.[2]
The municipal seat is surrounded by low mountains, ten of which are the most prominent. The two main rivers are the Verde and the Atoya. It has a temperate climate with most rain falling in June and July. Wild flora that can be found here includes pines, oaks, willows and other trees, as well as medicinal plants. Wildlife includes deer, foxes, coyotes, opossums, rabbits as well as a wide variety of birds and reptiles.[2]
Much of the economy of the municipality is based on small-scale farming and livestock raising as well as commerce. Agriculture occupies the majority of the land but only 15% of the people. Crops grown here include fruit trees such as apples, peaches, pears,
The municipality has had problems with the illegal trafficking of land, the victims of which are having problems obtaining basic services. One area particularly affected is a zone called Zaachila Segundo. Here about 700 lots, with a value of 50,000 pesos each, are in question. The problem extends from the current rapid growth of the town, whose population is expected to grow by 240% by 2030. About 18,000 inhabitants of the municipality do not have sufficient water, electricity or drainage services.[27]
A more serious problem for the municipality is the
This is the only dump for the entire Oaxaca city area. It began illegally but was legalized in 1986. However, by this time, there had already been a number of complaints from the neighborhoods of Vicente Guerrero and Emiliano Zapata near the site. The problems with the dump were bad enough that even those who made money from sorting through the garbage asked for its closure.[29] The need to build the landfill was announced in 2000.[28] However, the dump still continues to operate the way it always has, with no processing of the waste and minimal efforts in containing pollution.[29]
References
- ^ a b "Zaachila: 14th century Oaxacan city has many unexplored gems1". Oaxaca Travel Guide. Retrieved August 10, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México Estado de Oaxaca – Villa de Zaáchila" (in Spanish). Mexico: INAFED. Archived from the original on May 23, 2007. Retrieved March 17, 2009.
- ^ hdl:1887/12346.
- ^ a b c d Reséndiz, Francisco (December 25, 2006). "En Zaachila viven con el fantasma de la confrontación" [In Zaachila, they live with the ghost of confrontation]. El Universal (in Spanish). Mexico City.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Triedo, Nicolás (December 2000). "La Danza de los Zancudos en la villa de Zaachila (Oaxaca)" [The Dance of the Stilts in the village of Zaachila] (in Spanish). Mexico City: Mexico Desconocido magazine. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
- ISBN 978-0-87480-536-9.
- ^ a b c d Robles García, Nelly M. (October 2000). "Guerras y alianzas indígenas a la llegada de los españoles" [Wars and alliances with the arrival of the Spanish] (in Spanish). Mexico City: Mexico Desconocido magazine. Archived from the original on February 19, 2013. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
- ISBN 978-0-8047-5104-9.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-521-58916-1.
- ^ a b c "Enfrentamiento a pedradas y cohetones en Zaachila" [Confrontation with rocks and rockets in Zaachila]. Noticias Huatulco/Puerto Escondido (in Spanish). Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca. June 20, 2008. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
- ^ a b Sanchez, Virgilio (October 7, 2006). "Retiene a policías APPO en Zaachila" [Police held by APPO in Zaachila]. Reforma (in Spanish). Mexico City.
- ^ "Aprueban la desaparición de poderes en Zaachila" [Approve closure of powers in Zaachila]. La Jornada (in Spanish). Mexico City. Notimex. February 16, 2007. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
- ^ a b Sosa, Yadira (February 23, 2010). "Conceden permiso a Zaachila Radio" [Concede permit to Zaachila Radio]. El Imparcial (in Spanish). Oaxaca, Oaxaca. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
- ^ Sanchez, Virgilio (July 29, 2008). "Acusan atentado contra comunicador" [Accusation of terrorism against spokesman]. Reforma (in Spanish). Mexico City.
- ^ a b "Balean a dos integrantes de Radio Zaachila, Oaxaca" [Two member of Radio Zaachila shot at]. Milenio (in Spanish). Mexico City. November 18, 2008. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
- ^ Gelderloos, Peter. Anarchy Works.
- ^ a b c Rendon, Ivan (May 26, 1997). "Con dinero y sin dinero" [With money and without money]. El Norte (in Spanish). Monterrey, Mexico. p. 8.
- ^ Zaachila Zapotec at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
- ^ "Recupera en cuentos la tradición oral de Villa de Zaachila, Oaxaca" [Recooperating oral tradition of Villa de Zaachila, Oaxaca] (Press release) (in Spanish). Office of the President of Mexico. February 3, 2009. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
- ^ a b Quintanar Hinojosa, Beatriz (August 2007). "Joyas ocultas de los valles centrales". Guía México Desconocido: Oaxaca. 137: 88.
- ^ Santos in Oaxaca's Ancient Churches: Santa María de la Natividad Zaachila. Retrieved 2012-04-17.
- ^ "Zaachila" (in Spanish). Mexico: CONACULTA. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
- ^ a b "Zaachila Market". Moon Handbooks. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
- ^ a b c "South of Monte Albán: Arrazola, Cuilapan & Zaachila". Frommers. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
- ^ "Zaachila" (in Spanish). Mexico: CONACULTA. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
- ^ a b "INEGI Census 2005" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on April 6, 2013. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
- ^ Mendoza, Elizabeth (October 19, 2009). "Zaachila Segundo, víctima del tráfico de terrenos" [Zaachila Segundo, victim of land trafficking]. Cronica Oaxaca (in Spanish). Oaxaca, Oaxaca. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
- ^ a b Garcia, Carina (April 16, 2009). "Basurero de Zaachila provoca daños irreversibles a colonos" [Zaachila dump provokes irreversible damage to neighbors]. Diario Despertar (in Spanish). Retrieved March 17, 2010.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-262-53300-3.