Jaracuaro is a typical village on Lake Patzcuaro. It is also the
Birthplace of the Dance of the Little
Old Men. It’s one of the places we highly recommend to our Hotel Mansion Iturbe guests who want to
increase their knowledge and understanding of the Purépecha culture.
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| The Dance of the Little Old Men from Jaracuaro at Lake Pátzcuaro |
Until the 1980s, when the level of the lake
began to go down, Jaracuaro was an island (it is postulated that an earthquake
opened a fissure at that time, lowering the level of the lake by approximately
three to four meters). Centuries ago, an important event took place on the
island of Jaracuaro that would
change the future of the Purépechas:
the marriage between Patzimba, daughter of Cúriparaxan, leader on the island,
Pauácume Señor Uacusecha of the Chichimecas, thus creating an important alliance
between the two peoples.
The fruit of the union was none other than the
famous to-be King Tariácuri,
considered to be the founder of the Purépecha
Empire. He was born and educated in Jaracuaro.
A scant 20 kilometers (13 miles) from our
Magical Village Patzcuaro, Jaracuaro is just off the main road
that goes along the lake to Erongaricuaro.
The Dance of the
Little Old Men –
one of the signature pieces of Michoacan
– originated in Jaracuaro. This
singular, joyful dance is so popular, it spread to other communities around the
Lake. Children learn it early on, as they have for generations, to become part
of their cultural identity. You can't mistake their very unique costumes and
the click-clack of their wooden sandals.
Video of the Dance of the little old men from Michoacan, Mexico.
The Templo de San Pedro in Jaracuaro
is a Franciscan temple dating back to the sixteenth century. It is a
repository for corn paste figures created after the evangelization process
began. The technique was refined by the Purepechas,
and enthralled the newly-arrived evangelists of the sixteenth century – and
they continue to enthrall us today.
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| The Templo de San Pedro in Jaracuaro is a Franciscan temple from the sixteenth century |
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| The beautiful celling at the Templo de San Pedro in Jaracuaro |
These unique religious images are colored with
a natural pigment from the dried (female) insect, cochinilla, which is a
parasite of the nopal cactus.
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| Religious images made of Corn Stalk Paste |
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| Beautiful antique Mexican door at the church in Jaracuaro |
Today, Jaracuaro
is primarily known as the place to find straw hats. The most famous hat
producer is Sombreros Cardom, one of the many artisan shops that has conserved
the age-old techniques, producing high-quality hats. In Jaracuaro, you will also find a wide variety of exquisitely
hand-embroidered ítems.
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| Straw hats in Jaracuaro at Lake Patzcuaro |
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| Straw hats store in Jaracuaro at Lake Patzcuaro |
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| hand-embroidered items in Jaracuaro at Lake Patzcuaro |
Live the experience of another village full of
history. If you buy one of those famous hats and show it to someone familiar
with our area, he or she will probably say, “I bet you got that in Jaracuaro!”
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| Entrance of the Church in Jaracuaro at Lake Patzcuaro |
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| Colors and traditions of Mexico in Jaracuaro, at Lake Patzcuaro |
*Text, pictures and video property of Hotel Mansión Iturbe.
We invite you to check more post in our blog, there you will find information about Pátzcuaro and the surrounding area. We hope that information will be helpful for your next visit to our colonial town.
We sugguest you to check the following post:
Archaeological Zone of Tzintzuntzan
The Legend of the Fuente del Torito in Patzcuaro (Fountain of the Little Bull)
Michoacan Carnitas – a Mexican Delicacy
Hotel Mansión
Iturbe
Portal Morelos
59
Plaza Vasco de
Quiroga
61600 Pátzcuaro,
Michoacán.
México.
Tels: +52 (434) 342 0368 / 342
3628
Fax: +52 (434) 342
3627
Toll Free fax number from USA
& CANADA: 1-866 678 6102
CODIGOS
GDS:
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