Cuetzalan is the municipal center fo a large concentration of Nahua peoples; the surrounding towns all have traditional costumes and strong ties to their cultural roots. On Oct 4th there is a Festival of Huipil and Coffee.

Cuetzalan is the municipal center fo a large concentration of Nahua peoples; the surrounding towns all have traditional costumes and strong ties to their cultural roots. On Oct 4th there is a Festival of Huipil and Coffee.Bob Freund 9/17/2004 for more information contact: info@mexicantextiles.com

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Voladores, a very traditional dance, representing eagles flying from a giant pole

(heaven), the four Voladores leave from the cardinal directions, they make thirteen turns before they land. There is great symbolic meaning to the dance including the cutting and carrying of the pole, its placement and the preparations for the dancer and the way the Voladores actually hold their positions during the decent. Most villages in the Sierra de Puebla have their own Voladores.

A composite of scenes from festival. Notice the different masks and costumes, only men dance. Sometimes they dress as women.

Composite of scenes from festival, the dancers from different areas all bring their own music and they all dance and play at the same time. The cacophony of sounds fills the air, your eyes can hardly stay focused there is so much movement and color.

Examples of different costumes and masks.

At the base of the pole for the Voladores with hundreds of dancers in the plaza. -