Mazahua people

Despite their proximity to Mexico City, Mazahua culture is relatively unknown to most Mexicans and even to many anthropologists. Women's dress One way that the Mazahuas have maintained their culture is by women's dress, the elements of which have concrete meanings and specific values. The garments include a blouse, a skirt called a chincuete, an underskirt, apron, rebozo, quezquémetl, and a sash. The traditional women's outfit, especially the version handwoven in wool, is in danger of disappearing despite efforts to save the skills and traditions needed to keep it. Another interpretation of the name is from the name of the first chief, Mazatlí-Tecutli. The language belongs to the Oto-Pamean languages branch of the Oto-Manguean languages, which is related to Otomi, Pame, Matlatzinca, and others. According to the 2010 Mexican census, there are 116,240 speakers of the language in the State of Mexico, which is 53% of all Indigenous language speakers in the state, most of whom are bilingual in Spanish. Migration has caused Mazahua to be the sixth most commonly spoken language in Mexico City. The New Fire ceremony occurs on March 19, which is a blessing of fire in springtime, co-ordinated by the head of the Mazahua people. The ceremony is done in a circle, with points aligned with the cardinal directions, each honoring a different deity. The wood in the center is blessed and lit. The fire is then distributed by candles. Handcrafts in Mexico City, by Isabel Quijano, Maria Dolores Garcia, Angelica Reyes and Matilde Reyes The main handcraft-producing areas are San Felipe del Progreso, Temascalcingo, Ixtlahuaca and Atlacomulco. Handcrafts include textiles such as blankets, sashes, rugs, cushions, tablecloths, carrying bags and quezquémetls made of wool. In San Felipe del Progreso and Villa Victoria, there are workshops which made brooms and brushes. In Temascalcingo, red clay pottery is dominant especially cooking pots, flowerpots and crucibles. The making of gloves, scarves and sweaters is dominant in Ixtlahuaca. Straw hats are made in Atlacomulco. Silversmithing is done in San Felipe del Progreso. While traditional handcrafts have been an important part of Mazahua culture, the tradition of making them is disappearing in the younger generations. Diet Health for the Mazahuas is both physical and spiritual. They also believe in "good" and "bad" ailments, the former sent by God and the latter provoked by some evil on someone's part or supernatural causes. "Good" ailments include diarrhea, pneumonia, bronchitis, and intestinal parasites. "Bad" ones include "the evil eye", "fright," and "bad air." The classification indicates the kind of treatment, which can include herbal remedies, massages, ceremonies, or professional medicine. Common feast foods are turkey in mole sauce and drinks called zende and pulque, especially on the locality's patron saint's feast day. Turkey in mole sauce is usually reserved for the patron saint day and weddings. Zende is a local drink made with sprouted corn, which is brewed and colored with a little bit of chili pepper. A small amount of pulque is then added to start the fermentation process. Ready about four days later, it has a sweet and sour taste. ==History==

The origin of the people is not certain. One story says that they were one of the five Chichimeca groups that migrated to the area in the 13th century, headed by a chief named Mazahuatl. Another story indicates that they are descended from the Acolhuas. Men traditionally earned money for the family by agriculture and making charcoal. In the past, Mazahua communities were self-sufficient, but that is no longer the case. The economy of most Mazahua families has been shifting away from agriculture to integration into the wider Mexican economy. One major example is the employment of Mazahuas at a former ranch called Pastejé, near Atlacomulco, now known for its electrical appliance factory. The plant began employing Mazahuas, primarily women, to do assembly work to produce electricity, water meters, conductors, bulb holders, and more. In December 1964, another plant opened and hired about 700 young women. The work at the factory had significant effects on the culture. One change was the ditching of a petticoat garment that Mazahua women wore for warmth as it kept sweeping along the factory floor, and the young women wanted to be more like city women. That has also led to other changes in lifestyles such as houses of cinderblock and cement instead of adobe. Another major change for the Mazahua people has been migration to other areas of Mexico and even to the United States, either seasonally or permanently. Work in the cities is easier and pays better than traditional agriculture. That began in 1945, when the Atlacomulco-Toluca highway was built, making it easy to travel out of the area, primarily to Toluca and Mexico City. Men began to migrate to Mexico City, generally to do construction. They brought their wives, who began to sell fruits, vegetables, and later rag dolls in the street, often making more money than their husbands. They were so successful at selling that other vendors began imitating their distinctive dress. Mazahua women in their traditional garb began to be called "marías" from a famous television character from the 1970s called La India María, who wore a costume similar to that worn by Mazahua women. However, the only similarity between La India María and Mazahua women is the costume. Many Mazahua families have moved to the Guadalajara area, settling mostly in the municipality of Zapopan. While most Mazahuas have left their traditional territory for economic reasons, some have also left because they had converted to Protestantism, especially to the Jehovah's Witnesses faith. The mass migration has left a number of Mazahua communities, such as San Felipe Santiago, populated mostly by women and children. The men return only for certain important festivals, such as the one for the town's patron saint. ==Territory==

Mazahua territory is in central Mexico, northwest of Mexico City. It extends over 6,068 km2 centered on northern and western State of Mexico, extending into small parts of Michoacán and Querétaro. In the State of Mexico, the Mazahua are found in the municipalities of Almoloya de Juárez, Atlacomulco, Donato Guerra, El Oro de Hidalgo, Ixtlahuaca, Jocotitlán, San Felipe del Progreso, Temascalcingo, Villa de Allende and Villa Victoria. In Michoacan, they are found in the municipality of Zitácuaro and Susupuato. Their territory is bordered by that of the Otomi, to the north and the east; the Matlatzincas, to the south; and the Purépecha, to the west. The Mazahua are the largest Indigenous group in the State of Mexico and the most dominant in the municipalities of San Felipe del Progreso, San José del Rincón, Villa Victoria and Villa de Allende. The territory is mountainous, with small mountain ranges part of either the Sierra Madre Occidental or the result of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. The ranges include the San Andrés which runs through Jocotitlán, San Felipe del Progreso, Atlacomulco, and El Oro. The climate is temperate to cold because of the altitude. Flat areas are important for agriculture. The main drainage is the Lerma River, along with the La Gavia, Las Lajas, Malacotepec and La Ciénega Rivers. Because of the proximity to Mexico City, the area has good road infrastructure. There are also a number of important dams such as Villa Victoria, Browkman, El Salto and Tepetitlán. Most of the territory is forest, with some semi-desert areas, but both are seriously degraded. Both logging and hunting have put a number of species in danger of extinction. Part of Mazahua territory is in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve. ==Socioeconomics==

About 40% of the population works in agriculture, producing corn, beans, wheat, barley, oats and potatoes, with peas, vegetables and flowers grown in some municipalities. Most production is for subsistence. Most agriculture is done on ejido land in families by traditional methods and tools. Livestock is mostly sheep and cows. Some fish farming is also done. Forest products include wood, firewood and charcoal. Another traditional source of income, especially in San Felipe del Progreso, is handcrafts, making blankets, sashes, rugs, carrying bags, tablecloths, quexquemitls, vests, and other garments from wool. Other common crafts are making carrying bags from recycled plastic strips, brushes and brooms and pottery. Most of the municipalities in Mazahua territory have a high degree of socioeconomic all marginalization. Two, El Oro and Jocotitlán, are considered to have a medium level and another two, Atlacomulco and Valle de Bravo, have a low level. Many Mazahua men and women migrate temporarily or permanently to the cities of Toluca and Mexico City to obtain work, as agriculture is generally not sufficient to meet needs. Some Mazahuas migrate as far as Veracruz, Sonora, Querétaro and Jalisco. Men generally work in construction and commerce, and women usually work in domestic service or in commerce. Mazahua communities generally are near Otomi ones. Both people maintain mostly-economic ties and exchange products from their respective regions. Mazahua relations with the mestizo population are complicated, but the Mazahua are generally socially inferior to the mestizos, who have most of the social and economic power. Education levels are low because of social and economic factors, with most finishing only primary school. Every year a school, ASF, holds a tianguis (outdoor market) to raise money to donate it to the community. Grade 6 students make products and sells them and donate all the money to the community. The best product made are the honeybee bath bombs, which help the most. ==References==