Zinnia Folk Arts - Mexican Folk Art Blog by Zinnia Folk Arts

What is Day of the Dead?

2025-10-29T10:27:22-05:00

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Our first blog post is about one of the most important holidays in Mexico, Day of the Dead or Día de Muertos or simply abbreviated as, "Muertos." Books have been written about the history, meaning, practices and beliefs but in a super small nutshell, here's a description... Day of the Dead is kind of like a combination of Thanksgiving (traditional foods, family gatherings, iconic colors, traditional flowers & smells) and Memorial Day (going to the cemetery, cleaning and decorating the grave site, remembering the dead) and is really NOTHING like Halloween. They both share the timing of All Saints Day and they both feature skeletons, but really, they are not even close in terms of a holiday. Americans may get a little confused because there are so many skeletons or skulls around during "Muertos" but these skeletons are happy and doing things that they used to do in life--playing instruments, singing, teaching classes, riding bikes--anything that they would do in life, they do in death. And always with a smile on their face. They like to look on the sunny side. It's a very nice holiday. In Mexico, Day of the Dead is November 1 and 2.

Day of the Dead: A Short Introduction

2025-10-29T10:22:35-05:00

Dia de Muertos or Day of the Dead is one of the most important holidays of Mexico. It is a complex, rich holiday that has its roots in ancient indigenous traditions and has been reshaped over the years by the Spanish conquest and the natural passage of time. Books have been written about it so there is a lot to say. But we are frequently asked about the holiday, so we’ve narrowed it down to a few important points…

Day of the Dead is not a Mexican version of the American Halloween celebration. Although it occurs at nearly the same time as Halloween, spanning both November 1 and 2, this colorful holiday is rich in family tradition, symbolism, delicious food, and beautiful flower and candle decorations. And lots of beautiful folk art skeletons, skulls and decorations. Sadly, some parts of Mexico are being influenced by Halloween but the traditional Muertos celebration has nothing to do with dressing up in costumes and knocking on doors for candy.

It is believed that on November 1 and 2, the spirits of the deceased come back to visit friends and family. Day of the Dead or Dia de los Muertos is when family members do their best to entice the spirits of the deceased to come home for a visit by making the spirits feel welcome, by creating ofrendas, (shrines) in their homes decorated with food, drink, photos and remembrances of things they loved while in this life. It is also the time to clean, decorate, and join family members at the gravesite of the loved one.

One of the more common decorations used by families to remember their loved ones on the ofrenda is the catrina and the catrin, which are skeletons fashioned out of clay, wood or paper maché generally wearing a large hat with feather (women) or a top hat (men). These images have evolved from the cartoons by Jose G Posada in the early 1900’s who made fun of the “dandys” who thought they were so fancy they would not die. Other skeletons and skulls used to decorate the ofrenda are generally joyful, representing the deceased loved one doing something that he or she enjoyed in life, such as cooking, riding a bicycle, heading to a picnic, playing music, dancing or going to work. Check out our skeleton, catrina and catrin collection in our Day of the Dead shop online.

Papel picado, or “picked paper” is another common Day of the Dead (and other fiesta) decoration. Traditionally, it is tissue paper that is “chiseled” with a design while in a stack and then strung up in a series of colorful paper flags, meant to mark important days or celebrations. Zinnia Folk Arts has some of this bright and cheerful papel picado available in our shop, which can be used for your own Day of the Dead celebration, or to add color to other festive events.

Día de Muertos is a time when families make both traditional foods and the favorite foods of the deceased, which are used on the home ofrenda and then often brought to the gravesite of their loved one. After sprucing up the gravesite some families, especially in rural Mexico, often hold vigils long into the night while they celebrate, remember, talk and laugh about the life of the person or persons they remember. Other common decorations for grave sites or for home and public ofrendas include sugar skulls, candles, and magenta and gold flowers, especially fragrant marigolds, which are thought to appeal to and entice the visiting spirits to return home.

The holiday reminds me less of Halloween and more of a combination of Thanksgiving (traditional foods, family gathering, memories and reunions) and Memorial Day (visits to the graveyard, cleaning and sprucing up the gravesite, placing flowers and candles). It is one of the most beautiful times in Mexico and I encourage you to visit Mexico during this special time.

Build a Day of the Dead Ofrenda to Honor your Departed Loved Ones

2025-10-29T10:22:35-05:00

Are you unsure about how to build an ofrenda for the upcoming Days of the Dead? Ofrendas are shrines built to remember and honor people who have died. They are a way to keep the memory of that person alive through the annual tradition of remembering what they loved to do, eat, drink and look like. The idea is to build a shrine that will entice the spirits to return home to visit on the special days of November 1 and 2.

The photos give you a couple of examples from some of my trips to Mexico during Dia de los Muertos. Every ofrenda is unique and personal so don't worry about whether you are doing it correctly or not. The main idea is to make an inviting altar that will entice the spirits of your departed loved ones to return to enjoy a few hours with you over November 1 and 2.

Mexicans believe the smells of the flowers, food and copal incense are especially enticing to the visiting spirits. And the color of orange and magenta is traditional throughout Mexico. So here are a few ideas of what to include:

1. Marigolds: the color and smell of marigolds is believed to attract the spirits. But if you live in a northern climate, like I do, the marigolds are long gone! You can substitute yellow/gold mums or the magenta colored brain flower (if you can find it!). In the shop, I use lots of artificial marigolds that I collect at thrift shops over the year.

2. Candles: Whatever candles you have will suffice. I like to put out the Lux candles with the image of the Virgin on them because the color combination is so inviting. I also purchase the super long ivory colored candles in Mexican markets, whenever I can, so I sell those in the shop when they are available.

3. Papel picado: "Picked" paper or the cutout paper flags are found at all Mexican fiestas. The papel picado for Muertos usually has images of the catrina or skulls or says, "Dia de los Muertos" on it. It comes in multiple colors and multiple sizes. We carry it at the shop.

4. Sugar skulls: These are fabulous folk art pieces sold in the sugar markets that pop up in mid October, in towns all over Mexico. Toluca has one of the largest and most famous sugar markets, but many cities have them and one can find lots of charming, unique, beautiful skulls made out of sugar. You can have the name of your loved one written across the forehead or not.

5. Photos and favorite objects: Ofrendas always include photographs of the deceased person(s) which in conjunction with the smells and colors of the flowers, candles and incense help the spirits determine where they should go to reunite and commune with their relatives. Many people also include the favorite foods or beverages of the departed. For children, a favorite toy may be placed on the altar.

I hope you enjoy building your own unique ofrenda to remember and honor your loved ones who have passed away.

Because I have not been able to go to Mexico for over two years our Muertos collection is very limited. But to see what we do have in stock, our current collection of Day of the Dead folk arts for decorating your ofrenda, you can click here.

Tariffs on Mexican Goods

2025-01-31T14:15:40-06:00

The President has announced that he is going to impose tariffs on Mexican goods starting February 1, 2025. He also said this in his previous term but during those earlier years, retracted the threat. (He changed the date; now set for March 4, 2025, changed again now set for April 2, 2025)

It's alarming and I've had many comments and questions about the effect on my small business if this policy is to go forward. We won't know until March 4 or whether it will actually happen.

If it does happen, it will definitely have an effect on Zinnia Folk Arts. Everything I sell is imported from Mexico. I go to Mexico several times per year and purchase from artists, markets, shops and makers all over the country and then I pack and ship it to the US. So, it's imported to the US and up until now, all of the folk art has fallen under NAFTAII . The goods I import usually do not have duties or tariffs applied (except for a few times when the customs broker has made mistakes) so the prices I'm able to charge my customers are reasonable. According to many people who travel to Mexico, my prices are actually lower than the items they purchase at the coastal resorts or Mexico City.

The irony of the idea of imposing tariffs on Mexico for immigration related policies is that it would actually raise prices in the US on goods that American consumers want to buy--cars, avocados, beer, technology parts, and folk art. The President has said several times, "...Mexico will pay." Unfortunately for his administration, the consumers are in the United States and it's the importer that pays the tariffs and then passes on the increase in cost to the consumer. This is true for all size businesses including car manufacturers, grocery stores, big box stores and small businesses. And if consumers don't accept a price increase, retailers stop selling products and businesses go out of business. A 5% increase in cost is not one I want to absorb but a 25% increase in tariffs, to get the goods to the US, would be life threatening for my little business.

So, I will be watching to see what happens. But I wanted you to know that, yes, it will affect Zinnia Folk Arts and depending on what unfolds, there may be some drastic changes in my future!

Silver Mexican Earrings Made by the Mazahua

2024-05-19T12:00:02-05:00

There are some amazing silver jewelry artisans in the Mazahua area of Mexico, northwest of Mexico City. They have been making earrings for a very long time. They were deeply influenced by the Spanish conquest of Mexico in the 1500's. When Spanish women arrived in Mexico they brought many new jewelry styles but in particular a style of earring that was crescent-shaped (arracada) and often wrapped in silver or gold. These styles took root in Mexican silver jewelry making and continue to this day. One Mazahua silversmith told the author of an article on Mazahua earrings in Artes de Mexico, the meaning of the silver earrings. He said, "The stones symbolize the bright star that comes out at around four or five in the morning. The doves represent the husband going out into the fields to work, and his wife getting up to make atole. The flowers and leaves refer to the countryside, to nature. And the lines are the rays of the Sun." When the artisans learn to make these intricate earrings, they practice on less expensive metals such as copper and brass. Once they master the technique, they start using silver wire and silver sheets. To this day the elder artisans teach the younger. Unfortunately, not as many young people are so interested in carrying on the tradition. Like so many types of folk art, the Mazahua earring is at risk of dying out. All of these earrings are .925 silver.

For our current availability check right here.

Mercados or The Mexican Market

2024-04-09T08:00:02-05:00

"Full of vigor, color and atmosphere, the Mexican market is a very ancient institution dating back to before the Spanish Conquest in 1521. The Spaniards recorded many vivid descriptions including that of Friar Diego Durán. Determined to propagate the Christian faith, he deplored with wry humor the fascination of the market place. 'I think that if I were to say to one of the Indian women who love to wander around the markets, Listen, today is market day in such and such a place. Which will you choose, to go straight to heaven or to go to the market? I suspect she would say, Let me first see the market, and after that I will go to heaven.'" Chloë Sayer, Crafts of Mexico.

"Mexico is a land of handicrafts where men and women create the objects that they use every day, and where beauty is as important as utility...To study the handicrafts of Mexico is to come to know its people, to see them at work, at play, in the home and in the market place...Country markets (in rural Mexico) are the social and economic pulse of a region. Friends meet to exchange news and gossip. Women from weaving villages sell rebozos and skirt lengths, going home with water storage jars and clay griddles, called comals."

The markets of today's Mexico have great connections to those of the past. They continue to be a gathering place for neighbors from towns within the region to gather weekly or sometimes monthly or annually to share news and exchange and sell goods. It is one of the great experiences of traveling to Mexico to see the mercado in action. Here are a few (there are literally hundreds of markets occurring on different days of the week) that are especially well known and fun to see. You will still have to dig to find the unique piece because there are hundreds of booths which sell radios, cds, stuffed animals, stuff from China and numerous other junky junks from around the globe. But here are are few to get you started:

Oaxaca: Every Sunday in Tlacolula, a town outside of Oaxaca City
Patzcuaro, Michoacán: Day of the Dead Market, annually, the week before Muertos (Nov 1-2)
Uruapan, Michoacán: Semana Santa Market, annually, the week before Easter
Taxco: Every Saturday

Here's a really complete guide to Mexican mercados with tons of info for you to sift through! If you're interested in food markets, here's a great start to the pleasures of those. And you can always shop online at Zinnia Folk Arts!

What is Mexican Talavera?

2024-04-07T17:00:03-05:00

Most of the ceramics carried at Zinnia are considered either “Talavera” or “Majolica” which are terms that refer to Mexican handmade, hand painted ceramics from the Puebla or Guanajuato regions. Ceramics experts differentiate between Talavera and Majolica due to slightly different processes and the type of clay and slips that are used in the making of dishes. "Majolica" is the larger category and "talavera" is a type of majolica. At Zinnia we group all of our ceramics under the more familiar title of “talavera.” Talavera is distinguished by the natural clays that are used in its creation, the strong colorful decorations, and a type of white glaze specific to majolica pottery, a type of pottery which typically features colors applied to a white background. Talavera ceramics are created in a style revered enough to have enjoyed specific protection of standards and regulations defined by potters’ guilds in Mexico.

Talavera ceramics, like many Mexican artisanal crafts, have over time blended features of both their indigenous roots and their European colonial influences. These beautiful pieces of Mexican pottery are named for the famed Talavera de la Reina pottery region in Spain, but ultimately expanded upon the Spanish traditions, incorporating use of the potters’ wheel, and then adding more colors and including motifs derived from the natural world. They grew to be firmly linked to Puebla (oldest Talavera workshop in Puebla is Uriarte) and Guanajuato, specifically as a result of the availability of high-quality clays in those areas and the strong regional demand for tiles for the construction of new churches and monasteries. In the Guanajuato area, Gorky Gonzalez and Capelo were two artisans at the forefront of reviving a disappearing craft.

Ceramics are indeed produced in other areas of Mexico, but they are often produced quickly, using volcanic soils which create tiles that are more fragile, and employ designs that are stamped in commercial colors, rather than hand-painted using the natural pigments which have come to define true Talavera.

Zinnia Folk Arts is proud of its carefully sourced selection of beautiful Talavera ceramics. Anne selects every piece individually primarily in Guanajuato with an occasional trip to Puebla. Consider how much fun our Talavera salsa dish would be to have for Cinco de Mayo, or what color you could add to your spring table with a set of our Talavera salad bowls. Also consider a Talavera vase or baking dish as a pretty Mother’s Day gift. Check them out online and let their lively colors put a smile on your face.

Our talavera collection is available for purchase in our online store. Stock is currently very low due to Covid delays and sales during our move to an online only store. We are currently developing an online custom order collection--you will be able to mix and match designs to create your own unique set of dishes, bakeware, serving ware or pots and vases. Look for it in September of 2022!

Feast of the Candelaria and the Niño Dios, by Cristina Potter

2024-01-05T09:00:01-06:00

The Last Part of Christmas in Mexico: the Feast of the Candelaria and the Niño Dios.

This blog post was taken from Mexico Cooks, a blog about lots of interesting things about Mexico, written by Cristina Potter.

Niños Dios: one Christ Child, many colors. Mercado Medellín, Colonia Roma, Mexico City.

For about a month prior to Christmas each year, the Niño Dios (baby Jesus) is for sale everywhere in Mexico. Mexico Cooks! took this photograph at the annual tianguis navideño (Christmas market) in front of the Mercado Medellín, Colonia Roma, Mexico City. These Niños Dios range in size from just a few inches long to nearly the size of a two-year-old child. Their diaper, molded with the statue, is their only clothing. You get to dress him yourself!

When does the Christmas season end in your family? When I was a child, my parents packed the Christmas decorations away on January 1, New Year's Day. Today, I like to enjoy the nacimientos (manger scenes), the Christmas lights, and the tree until the seventh or eighth of January, right after the Día de los Reyes Magos (the Feast of the Three Kings). Some people think that date is scandalously late. Other people, particularly many Mexican friends, think that date is scandalously early. Christmas in Mexico isn't over until February 2, el Día de la Candelaria (Candlemas Day), also known as the Feast of the Presentation.

The Holy Family, a shepherd and some of his goats, Our Lady of Guadalupe, an angel, a little French santon cat from Provence, and some indigenous people form a small portion of Mexico Cooks!' highly populated nacimiento--250 figures and counting. Click on the photo to get a better look. Note that the Virgin Mary is breast feeding the infant Jesus while St. Joseph watches over them.

Although Mexico's 21st century Christmas celebration often includes Santa Claus and a Christmas tree, the main focus of a home-style Christmas continues to be the nacimiento and the Christian Christmas story. A family's nacimiento may well contain hundreds--even thousands--of figures, but all nacimientos have as their heart and soul la Sagrada Familia (the Holy Family: the Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, and the baby Jesus). This centerpiece of the nacimiento is known in Spanish as el Misterio (the Mystery). The nacimiento is set up early--mine is always arranged at the very beginning of December--but the Niño Dios does not make his appearance until midnight on the night of December 24, when he is soothed by a precious lullaby and placed in the manger.

Niños Dios at Mexico City's Mercado de la Merced. The figures are dressed as hundreds of different saints and representations of holy people and ideas. The figures are for sale, but at this season, most people are only shopping for new clothes for their baby Jesus. All photos copyright Mexico Cooks! except as noted.

Between December 24, when he is tenderly rocked to sleep and laid in the manger, and February 2, the Niño Dios rests happily in the bosom of his family. As living members of his family, we are charged with his care. As February approaches, a certain excitement begins to bubble to the surface. The Niño Dios needs new clothing! How shall we dress him this year?

The oldest tradition is to dress the Niño Dios in hand-crocheted garments. Photo courtesy Manos Mexicanos.

According to Christian teaching, the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph took the baby Jesus to the synagogue 40 days after his birth to introduce him in the temple--hence February 2 is also known as the Feast of the Presentation. What happy, proud mother would wrap her newborn in just any old thing to take him to church for the first time? I suspect that this brand new holy child was dressed as much to the nines as his parents could afford.

The Niño Dios dressed as San Juan Diego, the indigenous man who brought Our Lady of Guadalupe to the Roman Catholic Church.

Every February 2, churches are packed with men, women, and families carrying their Niños Dios to church in his new clothes, ready to be blessed and tucked gently away till next year. Some families even buy him a wee throne, just his size, and seat him in a prominent place in their homes for the year.

The Niño Dios as el Santo Niño Doctor de los Enfermos (the Holy Child, doctor of the sick). He has his stethoscope, his uniform, and his doctor's bag. This traditionally dressed baby Jesus has origins in mid-20th century in the city of Puebla.

Every year new and different clothing for the Niño Dios comes to market. A few years ago, the latest fashions were those of the Archangels--in this case, the Archangel Gabriel.

The Niño Dios dressed as Peruvian San Martín de Porres, the patron saint of racially mixed people and all those seeking interracial harmony. He is always portrayed holding a broom.

Niño Dios de la Eucaristía (Holy Child of the Eucharist).

Niño Dios dressed as San Benito, the founder of the Benedictine Order.

Niño Dios dressed as a Chinelo (costumed dancer from the state of Morelos).

Niño Dios de la Abundancia (Holy Child of Abundance). See the string of coins placed across his outfit?

The ceremony of removing the baby Jesus from the nacimiento is called the levantamiento (lifting up). In a family ceremony, the baby is raised from his manger, gently dusted off, and dressed in his new finery. Some families sing:

QUIERES QUE TE QUITE MI BIEN DE LAS PAJAS, (Do you want me to pick you up from the straw, my beloved)
QUIERES QUE TE ADOREN TODOS LOS PASTORES, (Do you want all the shepherds to adore you?)
QUIERES QUE TE COJA EN MIS BRAZOS Y CANTE (Do you want me to hold you in my arms and sing)
GLORIA A DIOS EN LAS ALTURAS. (Glory to God on high).

One of the most popular 'looks' for the Niño Dios in Mexico City is that of San Judas Tadeo, the patron saint of impossible causes. He is always dressed in green, white, and gold and has a flame coming from his head.

Mexico Cooks!' very own sleeping Niño Dios. He measures just 7" from the top of his head to his wee toes. His purple and gold finery, hand-made for him using sequined and embroidered fabric from Oaxaca, is very elegant.

This lovely video from Carapan, Michoacán shows both the gravity and the joy (and the confetti!) with which a Niño Dios is carried to the parroquia (parish church).

Carefully, carefully carry the Niño Dios to the parish church, where the priest will bless him and his new clothing, along with a blessing for you and your family. After Mass, take the baby Jesus home and put him safely to rest till next year's Christmas season. Sweet dreams of his next outfit will fill your own head as you sleep that night.

Looking for a tailored-to-your-interests specialized tour in Mexico? Click here to see new information: Tours

Posted by Mexico Cooks! on January 27, 2018 at 10:00 AM in Art and Culture, Mexican Holidays, Mexican Markets, Mexican Tourism, Religion, Textiles in Mexico, Tours, Travel | Permalink

Nativity Scenes from Mexico

2023-12-15T09:00:00-06:00

Mexico is predominantly a Catholic country (over 90%). So, much of the handmade folk art from every region is related to either the Virgin of Guadalupe, believing in miracles, wishing and hoping for protection from the bad, thanking God for the good, remembering the dead or expressing one's faith. As we get closer to Christmas, the Christmas markets will start popping up allowing one to buy all kinds of decorations and food related to Christmas. People buy complete nativity scenes in Mexico but there is also a tradition that happens in other parts of the world--buying the nativity scene one piece at a time. If you go to the Christmas markets you'll see Baby Jesus in all kinds of sizes and colors as well as the lambs, cows, mangers and other nativity figures. You can purchase one or all or simply add on to your nativity scene every year. Jesus is also purchased separately because he doesn't appear in the scene until December 24th...the Three Kings are added to the nativity on January 6th.

Our current online collection is on our website.

All of the above natitvities are sold but to see our current collection, check our website .As always, if you have questions or would like to purchase any of these Mexican nacimientos, just let me know!

Mexican Folk Art Christmas Tree Decorations

2023-12-05T09:00:00-06:00

It's early, I know, but people are already buying Christmas tree ornaments in the Minneapolis shop! We have some very unique decorations and some of them are online. They are all handmade. That means they were not made by the millions by a machine. No, they were actually designed and made by hand, painted by hand and have all of the charm of bigger pieces of Mexican folk art but in a smaller size. And they come from different cities and artisans all over Mexico.

Wood carved animalitos from La Union, Oaxaca.

Cute lacquered airplanes and pilots as a Mexican Christmas ornament handmade in Guerrero.

The star-shaped pinata shows up everywhere in Mexico during the Christmas season. These small straw pinatas decorated with yarn are pretty individually or linked together in a chain.

Festive and colorful woven palm leaf Christmas ornaments. These come in a cluster of 12 and can be separated or left together.

Beautiful tin musicians from Oaxaca, Mexico. These are 9" tall and beautifully made. Unique.

Click here to see our Current Christmas Collection

Pinatas and Christmas Preparations in Mexico

2023-12-01T09:00:02-06:00

Right now in Mexico you will be able to find markets filled with all of the items one needs to celebrate la Navidad in Mexico. Starting in a couple weeks (December 12) with the Virgin of Guadelupe's birthday, then to Dec 16 for the start of the posadas all the way to January 6, Three Kings Day, there are special foods, special activities and special decorations.

The idea is that after the posada (people dressed as the holy family and their entourage go from door to door looking for a place to stay the night) and when they arrive at the last house, there is a big party and the pinata game is played by the kids (and sometimes the adults). Pinatas are filled with candy and games and a big stick is used to whack at the paper mache pinata.

I've been looking for a good Youtube video about the making of pinatas but haven't found one yet--if you do, let me know!

Unfortunately, the pinatas that are available around Minneapolis are imported from China and have SpongeBob and My Little Pony plates on them.

Christmas pinatas are handmade and colorful and quite large. I don't have any at the shop but above are some mini versions that I redecorated with flowers and shiny tassels. I took one of those and ripped off the tacky decorations and covered it with flowers and ribbons (see below)--you can do that too!

Traditional Mexican Nativity Scenes

2023-12-01T07:21:55-06:00

The Traditional Nacimiento (Manger or Creche) in Mexico

This post was written by Cristina Potters of "Mexico Cooks." Cristina lives in Morelia, Michoacán and is an expert on Mexican cooking and Mexican life.

To see our Christmas Nativities for sale from Mexico visit our online SHOP

A Christmas tree may be the central focus of your home decoration during this joyous season of the Christian year. In most parts of Mexico, though, the Christmas tree is a fairly recent import and the primary focus of the holiday is still on the nacimiento (manger scene, creche, or nativity scene).

One of Mexico Cooks!' biggest delights every late November and early December is shopping for Christmas--not hunting for gifts, but rather on the lookout for new items to place in our nacimiento (manger scene). Truth be told, we have five nacimientos--or maybe six--that come out each Christmas season, but only one of them keeps growing every year.

The tiny figures in this nacimiento are made of clay; the choza (hut) is made of wood. The shepherds and angels have distinctive faces; no two are alike. One shepherd carries firewood, another a tray of pan dulce (sweet breads), a third has a little bird in his hands. The tallest figures measure only three inches high. The Niño Dios (Baby Jesus) is not usually placed in the pesebre (manger) until the night of December 24. The Niño Dios for this nacimiento is just over an inch long and is portrayed sleeping on his stomach with his tiny knees drawn up under him, just like a real infant. This nacimiento was made about 30 years ago in Tonalá, Jalisco, Mexico.

Mexican households traditionally pass the figures for their nacimientos down through the family; the figures begin to look a little tattered after traveling from great-great-grandparents to several subsequent generations, but no one minds. In fact, each figure holds loving family memories and is the precious repository of years of 'remember when...?'. No one cares that the Virgin Mary's gown is chipped around the hem or that St. Joseph is missing an arm; remembering how the years-ago newest baby, now 32 and with a baby of his own, teethed on the Virgin's dress or how a long-deceased visiting aunt's dog bit off St. Joseph's arm is cause for a family's nostalgic laughter.

Nacimiento en vivo (living nativity scene), Lake Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico. In 13th century Italy, St. Francis of Assisi was the first to be inspired to re-enact the birth of Christ. The first nacimiento was presented with living creatures: the oxen, the donkey, and the Holy Family. Even today in hundreds of Mexican communities, you'll see living manger scenes.

Holy Family, 18th century Italy. The first nativity figures, made of clay, were created in 15th century Naples and their use spread rapidly throughout Italy and Spain. In Spain, the early figural groups were called 'Belenes' (Bethlehems).

A few weeks before Christmas, our tiny nacimiento de plomo (manger scene with lead figures, none over four inches high) comes out of yearlong storage. The wee village houses are made of cardboard and hand-painted; each has snow on its roof and a little tree in front. You might well ask what the figures in the photo represent: Sr. San José (St. Joseph, who in Mexico always wears green and gold) leads the donkey carrying la Virgen María (the Virgin Mary) on their trek to Belén (Bethlehem). We put these figures out earliest and move them a bit closer to Bethlehem every day. This nacimiento is the one that grows each year; we have added many figures to the original few. This year we expect the total number of figures to rise to well over 200.

Click on the photo and you will see that the Holy Family has not yet arrived in Bethlehem; the choza is empty and St. Joseph's staff is just visible in the lower right-hand corner. Click to enlarge the photo to better see the figures in the nacimiento: gamboling sheep, birds of all kinds, shepherds, shepherdesses, St. Charbel, an angel, and Our Lady of Guadalupe are all ready to receive the Niño Dios (Baby Jesus). Notice the upright red figure standing in the Spanish moss: that's Satan, who is always present in a Mexican nacimiento to remind us that although the birth of Jesus offers love and the possibility of redemption to the world, sin and evil are always present.

Detail of the lead figures in our ever-growing nacimiento. To the left is a well (with doves) and a woman coming to draw water; to the right is an arriero (donkey-herder) giving his stubborn little donkey what-for. No matter how many figures are included, the central figures in any nacimiento are the Holy Family (St. Joseph, the Virgin Mary, and the Baby Jesus). In Mexico, those three are collectively known as el misterio (the mystery).

A very small portion of one of the largest nacimientos on display in Mexico City. It measures more than 700 square meters and includes thousands of figures. They include everything you can think of and some things that would never occur to you: a butcher shop, a running stream and a waterfall, sleeping peasants, and washerwomen. A nacimiento can include all of the important stories of the Bible, from Genesis to the Resurrection, as well as figures representing daily life--both today's life in Mexico and life at the time of Jesus's birth. Photo courtesy El Universal.

Papel roca (hand-painted paper for decorating a nacimiento), a choza (little hut), and two kinds of moss for sale in this booth at the Guadalajara tianguis navideño (Christmas market). This year, Mexico Cooks! has purchased figures of a miniature pre-Hispanic loinclothed warrior, a tiny shoemaker working at his bench, a wee man sawing firewood, and a shepherd standing under a tree while holding a lamb. The shepherd's tree looks exactly like a stalk of broccoli and makes us smile each time we look at it.

Where in Mexico can you buy figures for your nacimiento? Every city and town has a market where, for about a month between the end of November and the first week in January, a large number of vendors offer items especially for Christmas. Some larger cities, like Mexico City, Guadalajara, Morelia, and others, offer several tianguis navideños (Christmas markets) where literally thousands of figures of every size are for sale. A few years ago, we found a tiny figure of the seated Virgin Mary, one breast partially exposed as she nurses the Niño Dios, who lies nestled in her arms. It's the only one like it that we have ever seen.

This shepherd keeps watch over his cook-fire in the Mexico Cooks! nacimiento. He's about three inches long from head to toe; the base of the fire is about the same length; the lead props for the pot are about two inches high.

This booth at a tianguis navideño in Guadalajara offers Niños Dios in every possible size, from tiny ones measuring less than three inches long to babies the size of a two-year-old child. In Mexico City's Centro Histórico, Calle Talavera is an entire street devoted to shops specializing in clothing for your Niño Dios. The nacimiento is traditionally displayed until February 2 (Candlemas Day), when the Niño Dios is gently taken out of the pesebre in a special ceremony called the levantamiento (raising). The nacimiento is then carefully stored away until the following December.

The choza (hut) in the Mexico Cooks! nacimiento. People and animals are waiting for the arrival of the Mary and Joseph, and for the birth of the Christ Child. Click on any photo for a larger view. In addition to the original lead figures, we now have indigenous figures found in a Mexico City flea market, antique lead animal figures (the rabbit behind the sleeping lamb, the little brown dog behind the kneeling shepherd), finely detailed santons from a trip to Provence, modern resin figures of every description, and many more. Two hundred more--and counting!

Piles of gold and silver glitter cardboard stars of Bethlehem, for sale at the tianguis navideño in southern Mexico City's Mercado Mixcoac.

At another tianguis navideño, an assortment of clay figures for your nacimiento: villagers, chickens, and vendors. Size and scale don't matter: you'll find crocodiles the size of a soft drink can and elephants no bigger than your little finger. Both will work equally well in your nacimiento.

Giant flamingos go right along with burritas (little donkeys). Why not?

Each traditional figure in a nacimiento is symbolic of a particular value. For example, the choza (the little hut) represents humility and simplicity. Moss represents humility--it's something that everyone steps on. The donkey represents the most humble animal in all creation, chosen to carry the pregnant Virgin Mary. The star of Bethlehem represents renewal and unending light.

Which diablito (little devil) tempts you most, the one with the money bag or the one with the booze?

How many shepherds do you want? This Guadalajara tianguis navideño booth has hundreds, and in sizes ranging from an inch to well over a foot tall.

It wouldn't be a Mexican nacimiento without tortillas!

This Christmas, Mexico Cooks! wishes you all the blessings of the season. Whatever your faith, we hope you enjoy this peek at the nacimiento, one of Mexico's lasting traditions.

Visit Zinnia Folk Arts Online Shop to Buy Mexican Nativities!

Looking for a tailored-to-your-interests specialized tour in Mexico? Click here: Tours.

Where to Buy Mexican Christmas Ornaments

2023-11-30T07:32:53-06:00

Mexican Christmas ornaments can be found in many places in Mexico, during the Christmas season, including Mexico City, Guerrero, Chiapas, Guanajuato, Oaxaca, Guadalajara and Puebla. And of course in our Mexican folk art store starting in early November! Because I select everything individually rather than buying at trade shows or from catalogues, I usually don't see Christmas ornaments to purchase in Mexico until late October. But keep your eyes open if you are traveling in Mexico at any time of the year because you'll be surprised to see unique small items that can be turned into ornaments even if that was not the artist's intention.

One of the most common materials used for Mexican Christmas ornaments is tin. We always have a good selection of tin ornaments in various shapes and sizes. Some, like these, are simply cut and painted and others are cut, punched, fabricated and painted:

Click on the photo to take you to our current stock. Or click on Christmas collection to see everything!

Tin can be cut and shaped into lots of different things:

A less common material for ornaments is wood but the beautiful wood carvings of Oaxaca can become ornaments at Christmas or a lovely window decoration at any time of the year:

The clay ornaments of Guerrero are charming and unique (SOLD OUT):

Flannel ornaments handmade and embroidered in Chiapas are soft and unique:

And the festive woven palma decorations of Michoacan add lots of color to any tree or mantel:

If you enjoy Mexican Christmas ornaments handmade in various states of the great country of Mexico, take a look at our full collection!

Frida Kahlo Christmas Ornament

2023-11-28T08:36:07-06:00

This is a beautiful blown glass ornament depicting Mexico's most famous woman artist, Frida Kahlo. She led a turbulent and creative life and has likely exceeded the popularity of Diego Rivera and many other men of her time. She's inspired many women and if you're interested to learn more, check out some other blog posts we've written about her fashion style and 5 surprising facts about her life. The ornament was designed in Tucson, Arizona and then hand-blown and hand-painted in Krakow, Poland. It measures about 9" tall and adds a little life to any Christmas tree. We have a limited supply every year so don't miss out, purchase today!

Click on the photo or on the highlighted text to purchase.

Collecting and Displaying Folk Art

2023-10-25T09:26:43-05:00

I've been a collector of handmade objects for a long time. I've learned over time what I'm interested in and it's usually the quirky stuff that doesn't interest other people like feather art, painted wooden bowl, whimsical animals and baskets from every corner of the earth. Everyone has a different idea of home and how to select and arrange objects in their home, whether it's folk art or other treasured belongings. Below are a few photos of how some people live with folk art and a few simple ideas for collecting and displaying.

1. Collections should be personal. They should always be what YOU want to collect. Don't let others influence your taste. Go with what YOU love.

2. Be patient. Build your collection slowly, buying one piece at a time. Learn about the makers of that folk art and where they come from. Be choosy and pick the best quality you can afford.

3. Showcasing handmade folk art is all about balance. Don't overfill your house--every piece needs a little room to breathe and to be visible. I like to make every piece in my shop (and my home) feel special. These pieces have stories and they can tell them better when they are visible to you and your visitors.

4. Group like items or like colors.Folk art is more interesting when the color or object theme is the same.

5. Have fun. Be quirky. Don't be afraid to collect or use pieces that are unexpected, either in the same vein as folk art or completely opposite. I always fall for things that put a smile on my face whether it's by a master or a child.

6. Don't seek perfection. Handmade folk art is imperfect. Every piece has a story of the maker and something of themselves in it. Each piece is unique, sometimes not perfectly even, square, painted or decorated. It usually has an historical connection to its region, town or family and usually the method has been taught to current artisans by their family or relatives. The materials used usually are available in the area and are not imported from far away places.

7. Enjoy your collections by putting them in places you can see them, rather than hiding them in drawers or closets!

What's the Difference between Day of the Dead and Halloween?

2023-10-10T11:05:40-05:00

Do you know anyone who says, "Day of the Dead is like Halloween in Mexico, right?"

Well, you can confidently inform them they are wrong. Actually, it's nothing like Halloween! There are some overlaps in the decorations and the prevalence of skulls and skeletons but the important holiday of Day of the Dead is much, much more than handing out candy to costumed trick-or-treaters. American Halloween customs are infiltrating the cities and towns of Mexico, but the beautiful traditions of Day of the Dead live on, especially in the rural pueblos and remote areas of the great country of Mexico.

Day of the Dead or Día de Muertos is a traditional holiday that is for remembering and honoring deceased friends and relatives. There are two days, November 1 and 2, and each has special significance. The belief is that the spirits of the dead come back to earth to visit the living during these two amazing days. One way to describe it, is that it's a little like Thanksgiving and Memorial Day wrapped into one holiday where families prepare special food, unique decorations and partake in significant activities in the home and at the cemetery. Graves and cemeteries are cleaned and decorated with candles, flowers and mementos of the person who died. It is a time for gathering at the cemetery to meet relatives and friends and reminisce about those departed loved ones.

It is a family time to remember those who have come before and the life they lived and loved. Celebrations take place both in the home by building an ofrenda covered with the photos and favorite items and foods of the deceased, and in the cemeteries, which are cleaned and prepared to entice the spirits to come back. The sugar skulls--which have become so popular in the US--are actually made of sugar and frequently have the name of the deceased written across the forehead. They are placed on the ofrenda as a symbol of the spirit of the person or people being honored.

Especially in rural areas, families gather together to clean and decorate at home and at the cemetery. They enjoy traditional foods like pan de muertos and they remember the person who died by talking about and sharing stories and memories. Frequently ofrendas are decorated with the sugar skulls but also skeletons, sometimes doing something that the person enjoyed doing--riding bikes, dancing, playing music etc.

There is a difference between the more solemn celebrations in the rural areas and the louder, more secular celebrations in the large cities. Because of the cultural familiarity with these images, many artisans make skeletons and skulls that are purely used for decoration and which can be found in many other places other than the ofrenda. They are folk art sculptures that convey the joy of life at the same time conveying the inevitability of death.

Be sure to check out our online shop for Day of the Dead folk art.

What is Day of the Dead in Mexico?

2023-09-10T07:51:08-05:00

Many people are not familiar with one of the most important holidays in Mexico, Day of the Dead, also known as Muertos or Día de Muertos. Books have been written about the history, meaning, practices and beliefs of this beautiful holiday, but in a super small nutshell, Day of the Dead is a time to remember and honor family and friends who have passed away. The traditions vary by region in Mexico--Oaxaca is different than Michoacán, and urban traditions are different than rural--but one way for Americans to think of it, is that it is a little like a combination of Thanksgiving (traditional foods, family gatherings, iconic colors, traditional flowers & smells) and Memorial Day (going to the cemetery, cleaning and decorating the grave site, remembering the dead).

It is not a version of Halloween. Both holidays share the timing of All Saints Day and they both feature skeletons, but that is where the similarity ends. Americans may get a little confused because there are so many skeletons or skulls around during Muertos but these skeletons are happy and doing things that they used to do in life--playing instruments, singing, teaching classes, riding bikes--anything that they would do in life, they do in death. And always with a smile on their face. In Mexico, Day of the Dead is on November 1 and 2.

The first day, November 1, is generally a time to remember children who've died and November 2 is for adults. The streets of rural towns and the markets fill with the marigolds, baby's breath and celosia during the week before November 1. There are pan de muertos, sugar skulls and candles to be purchased for building the home ofrenda or shrine. Grave sites are cleaned and repaired and made ready for the community vigils and gatherings that occur overnight in the cemetery. The thinking is that the smells of traditional marigold-like flowers, of favorite foods and favorite belongings will entice the dead to come home for a short visit and reunite with the family members and friends who love them. It is a beautiful and somber time, not morbid, not frightening. It's a time to remember people who are important to us who are no longer in this world.

The folk art, made for the period of Muertos, is generally skeletons who are doing things that they did during life (dancing, playing music, eating, working, riding bikes and many other activities) or skulls that are not frightening. Skulls are made of many different materials including sugar, paper mache, clay, wood. Papel picado has the images of skeletons and skulls. The paper flowers are usually orange and maroon, the traditional colors of the holiday. Some people buy only a sugar skull to decorate their ofrenda and others have huge Day of the Dead collections.

Take a look at our Day of the Dead collection and please ask questions if you have any!

Has Chiapas Changed? The January 2023 Trip

2023-02-17T17:14:34-06:00

Traveling in the mini-bus shuttle from the airport in Tuxtla Guttierrez to San Cristóbal de la Casas, I was squished in the very back seat next to a young man from Germany who had been traveling around Mexico looking for a story to write as a freelance journalist. I mentioned I had not been to Chiapas since January of 2019 because of the pandemic. He asked whether I thought it had changed, I said, "I'm not sure yet. Ask me in a few days!" The question was with me for the four days I spent in Chiapas and still lingers in my mind.

One of the best things about going to San Cristóbal de las Casas is visiting the many women's cooperatives to look for woven goods made in the highlands surrounding the city and usually made on a backstrap loom. Not everything is high quality but some things are and it's always a delight to find something that is carefully made with attention to detail, composition and color selection. Some of those Coops are still in the same places they have always been--Sna Jolobil, Jolom Mayaetik, J'as Pas Cooperative and Camino de los Altos. But one of my favorites with many weavers from San Andres has disappeared or moved. A few of the stores that used to be regular stops, have also closed or moved. Hours are irregular (and seldom posted) so it's possible that we missed them because we weren't there at the right time.

Something new to me (we were told that it's been there for awhile), and I wonder if it started during Covid, is the Saturday night outdoor market held in the zocolo. The entire space was filled with vendors with led lights illuminating their goods. The goods were spread on the ground on top of blankets. One of the vendors said that she has a booth at the Santo Domingo market but she packs some things up every Saturday night to try to sell at this market.

One of the biggest and saddest changes for me to see was the stores that have popped up in multiple locations with thousands of items to be sold in "mayoreo" or "wholesale." The items being sold are many of the handmade items for which Chiapas is well known--embroidered table goods, napkins, embroidered blouses, other men's and women's clothing, hats, and many other items. One of the storekeepers I've come to know over the years, told us that these stores started appearing during the pandemic and mostly cater to internet sales. He also said that many of the goods are imported from China, are not handmade and not made in Chiapas. It was easy to see that if you looked at them--poor imitations of the beautiful work of hardworking Mayan women.

On a day trip to Zinacantán and Chamula, Leslie and I were approached by a young girl who asked us if we were looking for textiles. When we said yes, she said, "follow me." We followed her for about 5 minutes and she took us to a Zinacantán cooperative off the beaten path where Leslie and I were overwhelmed by the number of women who came out from behind the building to show us their handiwork.

Here is our leader, somewhat non-plussed by all of the activity around her.

In one of the dearest moments, the weaver below examined a bufanda or scarf from the weavers in the photos above that was in my shopping bag. She had never seen this color combination and design of the embroidery on the ends of the scarf. She looked closely and then asked her granddaughter to take some photos of it so she could remember the pattern. I found it to be very sweet and very affirming of my ability to pick out unique pieces!

Has Chiapas changed? Yes, a little. Those big stores selling Chinese-goods-made-to-look-like- Mexican-goods, are definitely new. But mostly, it seemed the same. The markets in San Cris and in the smaller towns of Chamula and Zinacantán were the same--loaded with lots of stuff, many duplicates of what one finds in other stalls with an occasional unique piece, ancient cobblestone streets, people are still wearing the traditional dress from their small towns, women are still weaving on backstrap looms and carrying babies in rebozos.

Textile Making in Mexico by Cristina Potters of "Mexico Cooks"

2023-02-15T09:00:49-06:00

This article was written by Cristina Potters and she's graciously allowed me to reprint here! Follow Cristina's delightful blog about Mexican cooking and Mexican life right here: http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Textile Making in Mexico: An Overview of Tradition

This weaver, using a back strap loom, creates a patterned fabric by counting threads.

Twenty to thirty thousand years ago, early humans developed the first string, made with handfuls of plant fibers: they discovered that preparing thin bundles of plant material and stretching them out while twisting them together produced a fine thread. The ability to produce string and thread was the starting place for the development of spinning, weaving, and sewing. All three of those indigenous textile making traditions are still strong in today's Mexico.

The fundamental aspects of hand weaving have remained unchanged for millennia. Webster defines a loom as "a frame or machine for interweaving yarn or threads into a fabric, the operation being performed by laying lengthwise a series called the warp and weaving in across this warp other threads called the weft, woof, or filling." Another definition, quite to the point, states: "A loom is the framework across which threads are stretched for the weaving of cloth."

Using a back strap loom in Zinacantán, Chiapas. Mexico Cooks!, 2008. Click on any photo for a larger view.

When the back strap loom was developed, it was easy to transport and simple to construct. One end of the loom was attached to a fixed point, like a tree trunk, and the other was a rod, which was held in place with a cord that passed around the waist of the weaver. By leaning back against the waist cord, the weaver could put tension on the warp threads and adjust tautness at will. The back strap loom is still used today by Native Americans in the southwestern part of the United States and by people in Central America and Mexico. The complexity of the work that can be created on this loom is limited only by the skill of the weaver, and the entire loom with the weaving in progress can be rolled up at any time and carried from place to place.

Hanks of naturally dyed wool, drying in the sun in Teotitlán del Valle, Oaxaca.

In the culture of Mesoamerica (the region extending south and east from central Mexico to include parts of Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and Nicaragua), clothing fabrics were quite diverse. In arid locations, plants such as yucca, agave cactus, and palm fibers were used for weaving. Where the climate permitted its cultivation, cotton was the chosen fiber. Cotton was grown in Mexico as early as 3000 B.C.--more than 5000 years ago. Although cotton did not grow in the central region of the Aztec empire, the Aztecs obtained cotton from the peoples they conquered. At that time, only certain social classes were allowed to wear cotton clothing. Rabbit fur and feathers from exotic birds were woven into fabric to decorate luxurious clothing, while amate (bark paper) clothing was used for some ceremonial vestments. The clothing of lower social classes was made of much rougher fibers.

Everywhere in Mesoamerica, women wove using a back strap loom, and then sometimes embroidered fabrics and applied shells, precious stones, and silver and gold ornaments to the fabrics they wove. In the south of Mexico, women made weavings using ornamental stitches or, among the Maya, decorating fabric with thin braided ropes.

Fabrics woven in those ways were of the highest importance in early Mexican life. At times, fabrics were used as money. Each culture of Mesoamerica had deities who watched over those women who carded wool, spun thread, those who wove, and those who embroidered. At birth, a baby girl was symbolically initiated into the work of weaving, and upon her death, a woman was buried with the textile tools that she had used all through her life. Textile making was considered to be much more than a technique. It was a sacred gift bestowed on women by the gods.

Seeds and other plant material are used to make natural dyes. The basket on the right holds a wooden spindle and a hand carder for raw wool.

Conquest by the Spanish and the continuing presence of the conquistadores changed the panorama of textiles in Mexico. During the time of colonization, new techniques of weaving, materials, designs and forms of dress arrived in the what was then called New Spain. Silks, wools, and the pedal loom needed to weave them were introduced. In addition, the Spanish brought a strong textile influence from Asia and Egypt.

The richness, variety and liveliness of Mexican weaving are in large part derived from the fusion of these influences. Traditional Mexican indigenous clothing represents the union of the people, proud of their geographic and cultural origins.

In the February-March 2005 New Life Journal, author Lisa Lichtig wrote, "For women, the loom is the violin. Woven bags come in various sizes and colors and are used for carrying everything from food to sacred offerings. Each, however, is made with special woven designs that are signatures from the heart and the dreams of the weaver.

"In the process of learning to weave, the apprentice makes miniature weavings as offerings to the gods. When a girl leaves her offering, she may take one of the offerings left for that same god by another girl or woman. She takes the borrowed offering home and copies the design, and then returns the borrowed piece and leaves another one that she herself has made. This practice has been a means by which designs were distributed among Huichol women."

When the Spanish came to the New World, they brought sheep, previously unknown to the indigenous peoples of Mexico. The natives quickly learned to shear, card, spin, and weave wool. They used native vegetable and mineral dyes to create the vibrant colors so crucial to their designs. Today, as indigenous people herd fewer and fewer sheep, acrylics have largely replaced wool in woven work. Very few weavers still know how to make and use the old dyes.

The indigenous Zapotec are native to the state of Oaxaca, in southernmost Mexico. Many Zapotec are extraordinary rug weavers. The most famous Zapotec rug weaving center is Teotitlán del Valle, Oaxaca, a remote mountain village that has become well known everywhere in the world due to the traditional fine weaving done there. Despite its remote location, the world shows up on the doorsteps of Teotitlán del Valle to buy from the weavers. Rugs from the village are sold all over Mexico as well as in the United States and other countries.

Detail of a rueca (spinning wheel) in Teotitlán del Valle.

Before the arrival of the Spanish and their sheep, the Zapotecos had been cultivating and weaving cotton for several thousand years. Like the Huicholes, the Zapotecos quickly learned to card, spin, dye, and weave wool. They have used traditional vegetable and mineral dyes for centuries, although aniline (artificial) dyes came into use about 30 years ago.

The secrets of natural dyes are jealously guarded. They are extracted from a range of plant mineral and insect sources: indigo blue from the jiquilete plant, green from malachite copper, and the vibrant hues of the red from the world famous cochineal scale insect which lives on the nopal cactus. Dyes are hand-ground and hand mixed.

Buyer's Note: Some of Mexico's weavers have begun using artificial dyes due to the difficulty and expense of creating dyes with flowers, herbs, insects, and other natural materials. Ask your rug dealer which dyes he uses. Discerning buyers and collectors insist on natural dyes. Be aware that if a dealer claims to use only natural dyes and the price of a rug you like seems too good to be true, his or her claim is probably not true.

The Zapotec weavers of Teotitlán wove only on traditional back strap looms until the Dominican missionaries introduced harness looms in the 16th Century. Today, some Zapotec weavers like to create modern carpet designs based on the art of Diego Rivera, Pablo Picasso, or Max Escher. Others disagree. One weaver said, "Those are beautiful designs, but those designs are created by painters. I am a weaver, and my rugs are the traditional designs of my people."

Wool rugs from Teotitlán del Valle, if properly cared for, will last a lifetime whether you use them on your floors or hang them on your walls. Mexico Cooks! would be delighted to take you to Teotitlán to meet the weavers.

Looking for a tailored-to-your-interests specialized tour by Cristina in Mexico? Click here: Tours.

Looking for handmade Mexican textiles?

Posted by Mexico Cooks! on March 14, 2015 at 10:00 AM in Art and Culture, Mexican Tourism, Textiles in Mexico, Tours, Travel | Permalink

Mexican Textiles 101: Cochineal, A Natural Way to Create Red Dye

2023-02-15T08:59:46-06:00

Oaxaca, a coastal state in southern Mexico, is home to a significant number of indigenous cultures, including the Zapotecs and Mixtecs, and is also notable for its biological diversity, as measured by the variety of plant and animal species present. These resources and influences have contributed to Oaxaca’s position as a leading producer of handcrafts in Mexico. One of those resources in particular, a scale insect known as cochineal (Dactylopius coccus), is responsible for a strong red natural dye known as carmine. Extracts from cochineal have been used in Mexico since at least the fifteenth century (and in Peru for much longer), significantly impacted international trade during the Colonial Period, and continuing to be important in “coloring” our modern world.

The cochineal insect makes its home on the paddles of the prickly pear (nopal) cactus. The nopal farms where they do this (nopalry) may use traditional or controlled methods, either of which involve the the female living approximately ninety days tucked into it’s protective waxy substance, and the (much smaller) males feeding only long enough to reproduce, then dying shortly thereafter. When it is time, the females are brushed off of the nopal paddles, and dried carefully, either in the sun for several days or using more industrial methods. Those carcasses are crushed and the brilliant red stain visible inside produces the carminic acid responsible for creating a range of brilliant reds, oranges and pinks. The color and shade produced depend on the production process and the chemical treatments used to finish the dye.

Cochineal was used by the Aztecs as a body paint, a dye for textiles and a medicine. After Cortez conquered the Aztecs, the importance and value of the red dye became recognized and began to be exported to Europe. While it has been a successful product in its native Mexican and South American climates, attempts to produce it in other parts of the world including Australia and Ethiopia, have not been successful.

Cochineal dye is expensive and scarce because of the number of insects needed to make it in quantity. Approximately 80,000-100,000 insects are needed to produce one kilogram (2.2 pounds) of dye, which is valued at $50-$80 USD. In the past, it was used rarely and only in the finest fabrics. In 1467, Pope Paul II announced that cardinals’ robes would be dyed red, rather than the traditional purple, by using the recently discovered dye. During the Revolutionary War, the “redcoats” or British soldiers, wore jackets dyed with cochineal.

In the nineteenth century, a synthetic dye called alizarin was developed, largely ending the economic power of cochineal trade. Both alizarin and cochineal extracts are currently used in food products, pharmaceuticals, laboratory stains, cosmetics and many other commercial products.

In this century, a strong interest in cochineal and its natural products has been revived. Many people yearn for the use of more natural substances over factory made chemicals. Some people have wondered about using cochineal for all red dye needs but have realized it would be nearly impossible and environmentally irresponsible, to use only natural dyes for all of the uses that humankind demands at this point.

Currently, there is a thriving production and use of cochineal in Oaxaca and Chiapas, Mexico and many other textile making regions of Latin America. Oaxaca and Chiapas are places where many textiles are still produced using traditional methods, and where embroidery is applied to beautiful textiles, making critical use of the brilliant reds, pinks, purples and oranges of this amazing substance. The extracts of cochineal affix more thoroughly and permanently to protein-based fibers than plant-based ones, making carmine an ideal dye for wool and silk products, and a beautiful way to add color to the garments produced in Mexico.

To see our current textiles from Oaxaca and Chiapas click on the photos or visit our website.

We're Moving Completely Online

2022-04-10T18:32:01-05:00

After 10 plus wonderful years located at the corner of 50th and Bryant, we will be closing our Minneapolis folk art store and moving completely online to www.ZinniaFolkArts.com at the end of May, 2022.

There are a number of reasons--the lease is expiring, road construction is beginning on both streets this summer, Covid 19 has reduced our foot traffic and I am ready to have more free time to travel and explore some new ideas for the business. I plan to continue the online store, still selling beautiful handmade pieces from Mexico and also expanding to a few other countries whose folk art interests me. Join the email list or follow @ZinniaFolkArts on Instagram to keep up with the changes, new folk art and expanded service to other countries around the world.

The final day for customers to visit the Minneapolis store located at 826 West 50th Street will be Sunday, May 15, 2022. The moving sale will begin on Wednesday, April 13 and will continue through Sunday, May 15. Join the email list to receive notices of discounts and reductions on current merchandise.

Thank you so much for your support in this cold land, so far away from the aesthetics and culture of Mexico. I am so happy I was able to reach many kindred spirits around the Twin Cities over the last 10 years. Thank you for being a part of my dream!

Textile Tour in the Highlands of Chiapas

2022-02-04T13:22:23-06:00

In early March of 2018 I traveled to Chiapas on a week long textile tour with Norma Schafer and Sheri Brautigam, two Mexican textile experts. I've been to Chiapas several times and have always loved the intricate style of back strap weaving by Mayan women of the highlands of Chiapas. The reason I wanted to go on this textile tour was to visit the more remote villages outside of the city of San Cristóbal de las Casas and to learn more about the textiles I love so much. It was a delightful trip; 10 women in addition to our trusty leaders, excellent tour guides who gave us so much historical and political background on the state of Chiapas while we were riding the 1-2 hours away in our mini-van, discovery of new artisans, trying new restaurants and meeting women from all over the United States, Mexico and Australia who shared an interest in this type of traditional women's work.

Shop here for handmade textiles from Chiapas

The view from our street in San Cristóbal de las Casas.

This is an outstanding example of backstrap loom weaving on the wall at the Museo Mundo Maya.

Norma Schafer, our intrepid leader

Wall at the Women's Cooperative in Tenejapa, Chiapas

A traditional Mayan cemetery located in Romerillo. The Mayan cross (the Ceiba tree) joins the Catholic crosses on the rim of the hill. Both sides of the hill are covered with graves. The wooden planks are doors that keep the souls of the deceased where they should be and are removed on Día de los Muertos to allow the spirits to rejoin the living.

Wearing a black wool skirt typical of the town of Chamula, the aunt of our tour guide showed us the back breaking work of weaving on a loom that is tied to a tree and held taut by the belt around the lower back.

This lovely young woman made some of the blouses I now have in the shop. She and her husband, two young daughters and mother-in-law live in Aguacatenango, Chiapas about two hours from San Cristóbal de las Casas. She made and is wearing the traditional blusa of her town.

The fabulous (and fragile) ceramics of this remote village were in the taller of Juana Gomez Ramirez, a Great Master of Mexican Folk Art who specializes in clay jaguars. The fish were so beautiful against the bright blue of the floor.

Jolom Mayaetik, a beautiful women's cooperative about 30 minutes away from San Cristóbal de las Casas. This coop has been one of my favorites for many years.

The unique chals of Zinacantán. These are women's shawls folded on a line inside a small shop. The large tassels are tucked behind. These are machine embroidered which is no small task--each one is unique and reflects the design and skill of the woman who made it.

One of the women on the tour had the brilliant idea of giving reading glasses to the women weavers we met along the way. We all brought readers from home to be donated to the various women's cooperative leaders. They were asked to share them with the most needy women. This photo captures a weaver trying on readers of different lens strengths.

Someone else had another brilliant idea. She brought a Polaroid camera and took photos of the weavers with their children or friends and then gave them the photo to keep. This was taken at a Women's Cooperative in Magdalena Aldama, Chiapas.

A skilled artisan embroidering in the sunlight in Magdalena Aldama. And wearing a gorgeous huipil.

Pom poms are everywhere in Chiapas! This is at the main mercado in San Cristóbal de las Casas. There are literally hundreds of pompom vendors in the market, on the street and in all of the shops. They are fun and cheerful and they will be arriving in the shop when the shipment arrives!

One of the walking streets of San Cristóbal de las Casas at sunset.

Shop here for handmade textiles from my last trip!

Getting Ready for Valentine's Day with Mexican Milagros

2021-01-29T14:18:59-06:00

These lovely wooden hearts are covered in small metal charms known as milagros. Milagro means “miracle” and these tiny religious charms depict legs, arms, hearts, breasts, ears, animals, people praying (just about anything really!) and are generally used to thank or request religious help for a specific problem. When they are not being used by an artisan, they are pinned on the clothing of a saint in Mexican churches or are attached to ribbons to be hung on a church or home altar. The milagros can be made of brass, pewter, pot metal, tin, and even silver. They are especially prevalent in Mexico and Peru but are also seen in Europe and can be known as "ex-votos."

SHOP FOR MILAGRO HEARTS HERE

The "Panteon" or Cemetery on Day of the Dead

2020-10-11T14:40:42-05:00

The cemeteries of Mexico differ from those in the United States in terms of color, order, and organization but on Day of the Dead they are like nothing else in the world. The photo above was taken at the cemetery in San Miguel de Allende. Families gather to clean and decorate the graves, they visit with friends and relatives, mariachi bands are playing and the color and joy of the anticipated arrival of the spirits is palpable. They have prepared the foods and favorite drinks, they've decorated their ofrenda at home, they've set out the photos, the glass of water to quench the thirst of the returning spirit and they will return to their own home to welcome those spirits to their ofrenda.

Later that night they will return to the cemetery, light the candles and stay overnight to commune with the spirits who have now returned, along the paths of marigolds, to their resting place.

Mexican Otomi Tablecloths: 6 Things to Know

2020-08-30T09:31:00-05:00

So many people love hand embroidered Otomí hand embroidery! Are you wondering if there is anything you need to know before purchasing one of these amazing pieces?

Here are 6 things to know:

1. The hand embroidered work of the Otomí people does NOT come on a bolt like other fabric. It is hand embroidered on a piece of off-white muslin. So you have a limited number of sizes to select from depending on what your project is.

2. Every piece is one-of-a-kind and the largest size takes a approximately three-four months to complete. This is why they are expensive. They are not mass produced in a factory.

3. The largest size, approximately 6' by 6', hand embroidered Otomi tenangos are made in many different single colors (pastel to neon) and also multi-colored versions.

4. The designs are hand drawn (not stenciled) in water-soluble pen on the off-white muslin and then hand-embroidered using embroidery rings and the false-satin stitch (stitch is on the front but not on the back).

5. The pieces selected by Zinnia Folk Arts are beautifully composed, the pen lines have been washed out, they are ironed and they are smoothly stitched by Hidalgo's finest Otomi artisans.

6. We can usually obtain the color you want for your home decor on our frequent trips to Mexico. If you prefer a certain color, please let us know and we will shop for you on our next trip.

We carry other sizes of Otomí embroidery too! Placemat sizes for making pillows or using as a placemat and the large, frameable rectangles are beautiful when framed. We often have tablerunners or placemat sized Otomí pieces. Sometimes we have this beautiful Otomi embroidery on black.

Click on the photos below to take you to our current selection of tablecloth sized Otomi tenangos in the online shop.

What is a Day of the Dead Catrina?

2020-08-15T16:48:00-05:00

This is a catrina. It's a figure of a woman skeleton usually dressed in a nice dress with a large plumed hat. A male skeleton is called a "catrin." And why are they so prevalent during the Days of the Dead? To understand this we have to go back to the turn of the 20th century when a well known Mexican newspaper cartoonist named Jose Guadalupe Posada, satirized rich people (remember women were wearing plumed hats at the time?) who implied that death wasn't for them--just for the little people. In his black and white etchings, he mocked the perception that the rich could somehow avoid death.

These cartoons were very popular with the masses and gradually his images, skeletons dressed up in clothing and doing things that the living do, spread to many corners of Mexico, became recognizable and associated with the ancient traditions of those two days in November, "Dias de los Muertos." Now, artists use all kinds of media (clay, paper mache, paint, wood) to make small, medium and large catrinas. They are used primarily for decorative purposes and can be humorous or stunningly beautiful.

To see the current catrinas we have in the shop, take a look right here.

What is a Mexican Tree of Life?

2020-06-29T08:50:00-05:00

This blog post was copied with kind permission from Dyana Garza Levin of the Copal Store in San Jose del Cabo. I thank her for compiling information in a way that is easy to understand and comprehensive! I’ve taken the liberty of editing it very slightly and adding a few links but the structure and important points are Dyana’s.

“A Mexican Tree of Life is a hand coiled pottery sculpture depicting the biblical Tree of Life; traditionally the tree sculpture would include Adam and Eve with the tempting Serpent, but the themes have evolved over time and today it is common to find Trees of Life conveying subject matter such as Day of the Dead and the Folk Art of Mexico.

It’s thought that the decorative clay pieces known as Arboles de la Vida developed from the ceremonial candelabra and incense burners made by craftspeople from Izucar de Matamoros in the the state of Puebla. The design was probably taken from the bronze and silver pieces brought by the Spanish friars, during the conquest, to use in the church. As time went by the clay replicas became colorful and intricately decorated pieces with flowers, leaves and animals on their branches. Adam, Eve and the Serpent usually appear on the main trunk and the Archangel Gabriel appears at the base.

Tree of Life by Aurelio Flores, Izucar de Matamoros

The first potter to start making the more intricate candelabra and incense burners was Aurelio Flores, who began making them in the 1920’s. In addition to their use in the church, the clay candelabra were given to newlyweds to ensure a “good harvest,” referring not only to fertility but to their livelihood in the farming community of Izucar. This custom is no longer as common as it once was.

No one knows who and when named these pieces Arboles de la Vida; the oldest mention of the name related to an Izucar clay sculpture dates from a 1952 book about Mexican folk art written by Patricia Fent Ross. By the 1970’s similar clay sculptures from Acatlán de Osorio, Puebla and Metepec, in the state of Mexico, were being called the same name. As the demand increased, artists in the different towns developed new themes and the sculptures were used to recount religious stories, historic moments and Mexican culture. Some of these new themes included Day of the Dead, Nativity scenes, Mexican crafts and Mata Ortiz pottery.

Trees of Life from Izucar de Matamoros

The trees of life from Izucar are always designed in the same way of candelabra or incense burners; they are painted with multiple colors and are decorated with colored lines. The trees come in different sizes and are about a variety of themes such as The Conquest, The Creation, Regional Costumes and other similar ideas.

For many years, Aurelio Flores was the only person in town making Arboles de la Vida and his son, Francisco Flores (now deceased), learned and continued his style. Their style is considered the most traditional in town.

In the 1960’s the Castillo Orta family developed a new style based on the decoration of the clay with fine lines that almost look like filagree and and introduced many new themes. Alfonso Castillo Orta (now deceased), the youngest sibling gave the multicolored clay from Izucar international fame and acclaim.

Talavera Pottery Tree of Life by Alfonso Castillo Orta

Trees of Life from Acatlán de Osorio, Puebla

The Trees of Life from Acatlán de Osorio were first made by Heron Martinez Mendoza (1918-1990). He began making sculptures similar to those from Izucar but with an animal or mermaid as their base. As his work evolved he created burnished or matte-finished trees of life that were decorated with brightly colored leaves and flowers. He is known to have several different periods of work, including the “white period” and an example of this style is below. His themes included Nativity scenes, circus figures, the Virgin of Guadalupe, Adam and Eve and all kinds of whimsical animal figures. Some of the more elaborate pieces were decorated on both sides.

Heron’s style greatly influenced Acatlán’s pottery and today beautiful burnished trees of life are still made in the community. A noteworthy potter from the Acatlán school is Pedro Martinez Lopez.

If you are interested in more information about Heron Martinez Mendoza, there is a website devoted to his amazing and influential work. I also have my own Heron Martinez piece that I acquired serendipitously through Craigslist!

For our current collection of Trees of Life check here.

Mexican Textiles 101: What is a Mexican Rebozo?

2020-05-16T15:00:00-05:00

The next topic in our Mexican Textile 101 series is the ubiquitous Mexican rebozo. A rebozo is a Mexican shawl, simultaneously elegantly simple and culturally significant. It is a quintessential Mexican staple, which evolved during the colonial period, and through time has been worn (and still is!) by all kinds of Mexican women, from indigenous women living in the mountains and valleys of Mexico to the most sophisticated business women and urban dwellers, from new mothers to elderly grandmothers to glamorous movie stars and heads of state. It is a garment mainly worn by women and is believed to enhance the grace of her movement while worn, as well as keep her warm in the place of a jacket or sweater. There are delicate rebozos of light-as-air silk for special occasions, such as Mexican Independence Day or a wedding, but there are also more durable workhorse rebozos, which are used to sling children onto one’s back, carry heavy loads, or even assist during childbirth!

A rebozo typically looks like a blend of a scarf and a shawl, and is usually a long, handwoven rectangle with hand-knotted fringe (called rapacejos), on both ends. Historically, rebozos have been woven with bright colors and patterns which make them identifiable by region. Other classic rebozos are dyed and woven using ikat techniques. A traditional rebozo is woven on a backstrap or upright loom, and can take thirty to sixty days to weave, and may be woven from cotton, wool, silk, or rayon; some are woven coarsely and are made for daily work, and others with a finer weave are so delicate that it is said that they can pass through a wedding ring. The choice of material used influences the price. Tenancingo has the largest number of rebozo producers, and is known for producing some of the highest quality, and there are also workshops in San Luis Potosi, La Piedad, Moroleon, and Uriangato, although sadly, some workshops that produced rebozos in the past have closed.

Although the use of traditional rebozos has waned a bit over time, there are people working to keep the tradition alive and some fashion houses have been working to bring them back. There is even a museum in Guadalajara devoted exclusively to the rebozo.

The rebozo is a Mexican woman’s flexible and indispensable accessory, and remains useful to her at every stage of her life. Rebozos are commonly worn in the countryside of Mexico throughout a woman’s life. It might carry her close to her mother when she is baby, and then another might be worn a certain way in her young adulthood, to indicate that she is available for courtship and marriage. A rebozo can be given in place of a wedding ring in some states. After marriage, it will be arranged in a different way around her torso to indicate that she is no longer single. The rebozo can lift her pregnant belly during childbirth, in order to reposition the baby during labor, and then later will carry her own baby close to her body after the child is born. Rebozos are worn on chilly days to add a little warmth. Some rebozos are 2 or 3 ply of thickness to keep women warm in the highlands of Chiapas and other mountainous states. A rebozo can serve women later in life, during a time when she must attend a funeral and grieve the loss of a loved one, and it even sometimes serves as a shroud for the dead.

If you don’t see yourself toting a baby close with one of our rebozos, or you have no weddings to attend this summer, but you still cannot resist the pull of this beautiful textile, some versions can also serve as lovely and bright table runners for a summer patio party!

Our current stock of rebozos can be found on our Textiles page or click on the photos to take you to the one featured.

If you're interested in other Mexican textiles, take a look at the first article in our series on Mexico Textiles about Saltillo Blankets!

Tin Folk Art of Mexico

2020-05-16T15:00:00-05:00

One of the most unique folk arts of Mexico is the creative use of tin. Above is a photo of some lovely lumenaria. The lower photo is a wall shrine or nicho box to the Virgin of Guadalupe. The designs are cut and hand tapped or chiseled into the sheet of tin. It takes a long time to learn how to do it well! The shiny tin is known as either, "hojalata" or "lamina" depending on where you are in the country. I love tin and am always amazed at the amazing designs and ideas that these folk artists create!

SHOP OUR CURRENT COLLECTION OF MEXICAN TIN FOLK ART!

Frida Kahlo Style: What is a Huipil?

2020-01-22T13:13:00-06:00

In the Coyoacan neighborhood of Mexico City, you can visit Frida Kahlo’s former home, La Casa Azul, to get a look at the way she lived her life, including where she painted, cooked, slept and entertained. And now you can also see the clothing she wore. Recently, curators of the museum gained access to more of Frida’s clothing, medicines, and other personal effects. Her personal items had been locked away from prying eyes since her death in 1954 on the orders of a grieving Diego Rivera. A traveling exhibition in 2014 called, “Appearances Can Be Deceiving,: The Dresses of Frida Kahlo” featured Kahlo’s clothing, and offered the world a view into some of her most personal habits and challenges.

Frida Kahlo wore and painted herself in traditional Mexican blouses and huipiles from several regions of Mexico. But her Tehuantepec-style garb, suited both her cultural and physical interests. Wearing the blouses of her mother’s native region allowed her to show her support for that matriarchal sub-culture and contrasted with the more common European styles of the time. In addition, the long, flowing skirts and huipiles that Kahlo wore offered a pretty way to cover her polio-deformed leg. Her style was so unusual and striking that she was featured in American Vogue in 1937, and her fashion and style choices continue to influence the modern design world.

In addition to the long skirts, elaborate headpieces, and intricate jewelry, the traditional Tehuana element that Kahlo often chose included a square-cut blouse, known as a huipil.

A huipil (pronounced, wee-peel) is a blouse made from simple rectangles of fabric with a hole for the head. These garments often feature a weaving pattern that communicates personal information about the weaver/wearer or other cultural aspects of life. Huipiles are constructed out of one, two or even three rectangular pieces (as they are more commonly made in Chiapas). The seams are closed by hand, sometimes incorporating decorative embroidery or ribbons as a design element. Sometimes they are left open to more easily fit over other clothing. A neckline is cut and finished at the end, or is created by leaving an opening in the middle of a seam. Huipiles are most commonly made from cotton, although velvet is also used for special occasions particularly in Tehuantepec.

Huipiles are meant to be worn with a casual, loose fit, and in the past were wider than than they were long, although the width has narrowed over time. Originally, huipiles were longer in length, functioning more as dresses. Then as European influence grew stronger after the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire, huipiles were sometimes worn shorter in length and paired with skirts, which is how they are often worn now.

If you plan to order a huipil from us online, consider measuring the width across the bust of one of your other woven (non-stretchy) shirts in order to check the fit of your purchase. Huipiles can also be belted at the waist, or tucked into a waistband. Most of the huipiles at Zinnia Folk Arts are handwoven in Chiapas, Oaxaca, Guerrero, and Michoacán (where they are also called huanengo).

Embroidery and decoration of huipiles varies greatly by region, and even the pattern of the weaving can have significance. In Mayan or other communities that wear them, the designs on the front and back shoulders can identify their lineage and specific community.

The indigenous women of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, who so greatly influenced Frida Kahlo, have a special occasion face-framing “huipil de tapar” (covering huipil), which frames the face and then extends over the neck and shoulders.

Huipiles from Chiapas incorporate symbols from the natural and spiritual aspects of their world, including images of gods, flowers and frogs. They also often include symbols representing the signature of the weaver.

Embroidery on huipiles was entirely handsewn in the past, but now it is sometimes aided by machine sewing. While this does not mean that it was less work, it is good to remain vigilant that a huipil you select is actually made by a Mexican artisan, rather than a factory in China. A very low price would be one red flag for such a copy.

Please contact us in the store if you have questions about how we select our huipiles or about any particular huipil you may be considering.

While we do not often dress as elaborately as Frida Kahlo did, huipiles can be easily displayed on a wall. We appreciate and enjoy huipiles for their high level of comfort and function but also for their distinctive beautiful style. We hope that you will love yours too!

REFERENCES

http://abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/frida-kahlo-fashion-exhibit-opens-mexico-city/story?id=17810830

http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/uncovering-clues-in-frida-kahlos-private-wardrobe/

http://www.statemuseum.arizona.edu/exhibits/frida/web/textiles.shtml

http://fashion-history.lovetoknow.com/clothing-around-world/history-dress-central-america-mexico

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huipil

http://www.chiapasbazaar.com/blogs/chiapas-bazaar/8091211-5-things-you-must-know-when-buying-a-mexican-blouse