By Deborah Van Hoewyk
Don’t most of us have memories of our grade-school Valentine’s Days? How about going out to get the booklet with pop-out cards (making sure it had enough for everyone in the class)? Then poring over them to separate the funny ones from the friendly ones, not to mention the lovey-dovey ones, picking just the right one to match each person on the list Miss Beauchaine gave out (lest you forget anyone). Continue reading Valentines a la Mexicana
By María Cristina Galante Di Pace and Araceli Gil Archundia
“Midwives are the inheritors of the pre-Hispanic medicine woman, the spokespersons of the gods, the priestesses of life, the protectors of health, the counselors of couples, the ones who scold, the ones who are not silenced by men, the ones who know the secrets.”
In rural Mexico, midwives still attend almost 50% of the births and are preferred over the doctors because they themselves are women; because they charge less; because they go to the woman’s home, are available, speak the same language and share the same culture; and because they treat women with warmth and emotion. Neverthless, traditional midwives recognize their limitations in intervening in grave situations of obstetric emergency. Continue reading Midwives in Oaxaca
By Julie Etra
The first Annual Festival of Maize Criollo took place in Santa Maria Tonameca on Sunday December 16th. This small community is located about 8-10 miles west and north of Pochutla in the municipality of Tututepec, Oaxaca. Maize Criollo, perhaps better understood by English speakers as Heirloom corn, consists of native and local varieties of corn that have been preserved and propagated for hundreds of generations. As per a series of articles previously published in the Eye, the ‘birthplace’ of corn has been confirmed to be the Balsas watershed on the border of the states of Oaxaca and Guerrero, with plant breeding beginning about 10,000 years ago. The ancestor of the current modern corn is a grass-like plant known as Teosinte, which barely resembles what is consumed today. Continue reading The First Tonameca Heirloom Corn Festival
By Deborah Van Hoewyk
The Bacaanda Foundation, also known as El Sueno Zapoteco (The Zapotec Dream), has “embarked” on a multifaceted project to showcase the artisanal skills of Zapotec craftspeople. The Foundation’s Ark floats on the tile floor of its workshop and gallery in Tangolunda. Christened in March 2012, the Ark is now populated by almost a hundred pairs of animals created from natural materials gathered by Zapotec villagers of Santiago Xanica and its three agencias (sub-villages) in the municipio of Miahuatlan, in the Sierra Sur region of Oaxaca. Continue reading Bacaanda Foundation to Schedule Inauguration of Its Ark Project
By Marcia Chaiken and Jan Chaiken
December 2012 has arrived, and some say if you don’t read this article before the 21st, you will have missed your chance. According to those people, December 21st is the last day ever on the Mayan calendar– the day the world will end.
From the earliest times to the present, predictions of the end of the world have always captured enough attention to sell books, gain followers for a leader, inspire works of art, literature, or music, and boost tourism to the place where the end is coming. But if you are more interested in being correct than in momentary fame or wealth, you know it is not prudent to predict the end of the world on a certain day – if you are right, no one will be around to recognize your accomplishment, and if you are wrong, everyone will know. Continue reading The End of the World
By Brooke Gazer
Most visitors to Huatulco know that it has great beaches, predictable weather and some posh hotels and residences. What is less known, is that the entire region is a wealth of history, folklore ancient culture and mysticism. “The Edge of Enchantment” is an amazing book that invites us into the intriguing world of local native communities. The book takes its name from the indigenous belief that this region is in fact “Enchanted”. The author explains “almost every town and hamlet in Huatulco and Huamulela has its own ‘encanto’, a physical space where a fissure or charm leads to an unknown metaphysical world.” Continue reading The Edge of Enchantment
By Vivien and Joel Hoyt
As the end of 2012 approaches, people are questioning the significance of the Mayan calendar. Historians tell us the calendar ends on December 21, 2012 and this has sparked many predictions. Sensationalist media is running rampant and the same naysayers who scared us about Y2K are busy again. I’m embarrassed to admit that in December, 1999 I stashed water, food, propane, batteries, etc. awaiting the big crash. Twelve years later I’m still here and choose to see things differently. Continue reading MAYAN CALENDAR
By Neal EricksonSanta Maria Huatulco, an ancient town in the south-central part of the State of Oaxaca, was “conquered” by Hernan Cortes for Spain in 1539. Today it is a city of about 33,000 people, and is the seat of government of the Municipality of Santa Maria Huatulco. In Mexico the municipality is similar to the United States’ county in local government, so in the U.S. it would be called the “county seat”. Just west of the Huatulco International Airport, the road to Santa Maria is perpendicular to the coast highway and heads north (taking this road south will lead you to San Augustin Beach). Approximately seven miles (10-11km) later, it enters the outskirts of town. Continue reading A Sight to See: The Mural at Santa Maria Huatulco
By Jane Bauer
The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time. Mark Twain
The moment we are born, we begin the process of moving towards our inevitable death. That is something most of us probably don’t like to dwell on too much, but there is no denying that when faced with thoughts of death we are reminded of the wonderful value of what it is to be alive. The way a culture deals with its dead says a great deal about those left to carry on. Continue reading Editor’s Letter
By Carole Reedy
Who are those frantic guys in the streets waving handkerchiefs, rags, and t-shirts in front of living, breathing bulls? This is a pamplonada, a “bullrun” that occurs in many parts of the world, often here in Mexico at las ferias. Occasionally you’ll see a proper matador’s cape, but generally this festival is for rogue players. Continue reading Adrenalin in the Streets: Crazy Fun at Mexico’s Pamplonadas
You must be logged in to post a comment.