Wirikuta is a desert, sacred to the Wixárika (Huichol) Indians high in the mountains of central Mexico , between the Sierra Madre Oriental and the Zacatecas ranges, near Real de Catorce. In Wixárika cosmology, the world was believed to have been created in Wirikuta.
Where is wirikuta located?
One of the most important events of this religious calendar is the yearly pilgrimage to Wirikuta, Mexico. Wirikuta is located high in the mountains in Central Mexico and is a three hundred mile walk on foot for the Huichols.
What part of Mexico are the Huichol Indians?
Most Huichol Indians live in central northwest Mexico , in the Sierra Madre Occidental Mountains. Their territory is located roughly 60 miles east of San Blas on the Pacific coast north of Guadalajara.
Are Huichol Aztecs?
The Huichol are direct descendants of the Aztec . You can explore their artwork, lifestyle and traditional ceremonies in the communities of Xatsixarie, El Nayar, and La Yesca.
Is Huichol a Spanish word?
Huichol is a Uto-Aztecan language of central Mexico, spoken by about 20,000 people in the states of Jalisco and Nayarit. ... Although some Wixaritari people today dislike the term “Huichol,” most of them now use it to refer to themselves, especially in Spanish.
How is Huichol art made?
One primary art form consists of gourds and carved wooden objects , which are coated with beeswax, then decorated with colorful glass beads pressed into the wax. With these beading patterns the Huichol create beautifully intricate designs containing rich symbolism.
What are the three major Huichol symbols?
Maize, peyote and deer are usually present as well as candles, arrows, serpents, scorpions and the gods' eyes that point to the four cardinal directions.
What was the largest tribe of Aztecs called?
The Nahuas (/ˈnɑːwɑːz/) are a group of the indigenous people of Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. They comprise the largest indigenous group in Mexico and second largest in El Salvador.
What language do Huichol speak?
The Huichol language ( Huichol: Wixárika ) is an indigenous language of Mexico which belongs to the Uto-Aztecan language family.
What does Huichol mean in Spanish?
1 : a member of an American Indian people of the mountains between Zacatecas and Nayarit, Mexico.
How many Huichol are there?
Lumholtz wrote “Still their ancient beliefs, customs and ceremonies all remain in their pristine vigor.” Today, there are only about 20,000 remaining Huichol people living in villages deep in the Sierra Madre mountains. They call themselves the “Wirrarika” people, meaning healers or prophets.
Is Jalisco Mayan or Aztec?
The area of Jalisco was inhabited by various indigenous groups, up until the conquest. Among them were the Chapalas, the Huicholes and other groups, which in some way or other belonged to the Aztec Empire , but being rather separate from Tenochtitlán enjoyed certain liberties.
What is the Huichol culture?
The Huichols are an indigenous group inhabiting the west Mexican states of Jalisco, Nayarit, Durango, and Zacatecas, who maintain a culture distinct from Mexican society at large. ... For the Huichols, land and territory have spiritual significance, which governs their actions and reactions.
What are Nearika?
A Nierika is a device that allows a Huichol person to communicate with the spirit world . The symbols and rituals on them are a way of asking the gods to bring rain and sun to grow their crops. After creating them, the Nierikas are left in sacred places like temples, springs, and caves.
Who made Huichol art?
Techniques for making and using beads have been in place long before that with beads made from bone, clay, stone, coral, turquoise, pyrite, jade and seeds. Huichol art was first documented in the very late 19th century by Carl Lumholtz . This includes the making of beaded earrings, necklaces, anklets and more.
