🌟 Tzintzuntzan: History, Art, and the Procession of the Arches
Tzintzuntzan, whose Purépecha name means “Place of Hummingbirds,” is one of the most historically important sites in Michoacán (it was the capital of the Purépecha Empire). Its Night of the Souls celebration is vibrant, filled with cultural activities, and centered around the cemetery vigil.
Tzintzuntzan beautifully merges its rich pre-Hispanic heritage (the Yácatas) with a unique religious and cultural fervor during the Day of the Dead. It is famous for the quality of its tule (vegetable fiber) handicrafts and pottery.
1. The Cemetery: A Spectacle of Lights and Color
- Prominent Location: The Tzintzuntzan cemetery is one of the most visited. It stands out because its graves are located on both sides of the main road, giving the impression of a split graveyard, which is very striking to visitors.
- Early Vigil: The vigil begins relatively early, around 8:00 PM on November 1st, attracting a large number of people from the start of the night.
- Elaborate Offerings: Purépecha families adorn the tombstones with cempasúchil flowers, candles, bread, and objects the deceased cherished, waiting for the arrival of the souls until noon on November 2nd.
2. The Procession of the Arches (Distinctive Element)
The most representative and visible tradition in Tzintzuntzan is the Procession of the Arches:
- The Ritual: On the afternoon of November 1st (around 5:00 PM), villagers carry out a procession starting from the town entrance. They bear large arches decorated with flowers and offerings.
- Solemn Route: The procession, accompanied by music and orchestras, heads to the Atrio de los Olivos (Olive Tree Atrium), part of the old Convent of Santa Ana.
- Blessing: After a mass and the blessing of the arches, these and the offerings are taken to the cemeteries, marking the formal start of the vigil.
3. The Atrio de los Olivos and Cultural Activities
The Atrio de los Olivos, a historic and spacious area in front of the Convent of Santa Ana (which was the first cathedral in Michoacán), becomes the cultural hub of the festivity:
- Handicrafts and Gastronomy: A large open-air market is set up next to the Atrium, where you can find regional handicrafts (pottery, textiles, tule work) and taste delicious Michoacán cuisine.
- Pre-Hispanic Fireball Game: Sometimes, exhibitions of the Purépecha Ball Game (Uárhukua) are held, where the ball is lit with fire—a visually impressive and ancient spectacle.
Tzintzuntzan is the ideal place if you seek a celebration that combines the solemnity and beauty of the cemetery vigil with intense cultural and handicraft activity in its squares and atriums.
