Dated back thousands of years ago, this ritual was used to call upon gods. They perform regularly throughout mexico, central and south america. Check out our editors picks to get the lowdown on the movies and shows were looking forward to this month. Suzanne barbezat is a freelance writer specializing in mexican travel, culture, and food. The tradition dates back to ancient times and has been passed down through the generations. Five men representing the five elements of the indigenous world climb to the top of a pole, one of them stays, playing a flute and dancing while 4 others descend the pole with a rope tied to one of their feet. Many people whove never been to the gulf coast or even to mexico will light up in recognition at the mention of the voladores. From its origins on the gulf coast of mexico, the ritual spread throughout mesoamerica. This fantastic folkloric show features indians from the papantla region dressed in brilliantly colored traditional costumes and performing riveting aerial.
Cerro del campanario, al fondo del callejon centenario, sn, papantla, veracruz. The following is from the tree of life, a documentary film by bruce pacho lane. Jun 20, 2009 the voladores are a source of great pride to everyone in totonocapan the region of the totonaca. We participated in the international congre ss of va nilla producers, from m ay 26 to may 28 2006, at the takilhsukut pa rk in papantla, ve ra cruz. The voladores, fliers, sometimes called hombres pajaro. If you havent seen the papantla flyers, you havent been to mexico. It is believed to have originated with the nahua, huastec and otomi peoples in central mexico, and. Ask anyone whos been to papantla what most impressed them, and theyll probably say, the voladores. Five men, each representing the five elements of the indigenous world climb atop a pole, one of them stays on the pole playing a flute and dancing while the remaining four descend. Five men representing the five elements of the indigenous world climb to the top of a pole, one of them stays, playing a flute and dancing while 4 others descend the pole with a rope tied to one of their. Papantla is a place that has transcended time where the sky and the land converse. In papantla, the hub of the vanilla industry, there is even a large stone volador that looks down on the city from one of the highest points in town.
11 939 421 98 30 650 1002 824 544 1457 841 9 1466 1005 1473 896 925 853 507 610 694 1404 1295 369 425 573 189 869 442 226 1052 642 1401 1136 753 1493 1100 276 442 593