Student Essay: Felipe Carrillo Puerto the heart of the Mayan world

By Abigail Tus Ku

Abigail with classmates

Felipe Carrillo Puerto is a small city in the state of Quintana Roo with so many traditions to know and experience. This paper will review 3 main aspects about Felipe Carrillo Puerto, the traditional food, the traditions and why it is the heart of the Mayan world.

Mexico has a very big specialty about food but if we talk about Quintana Roo, I have to say this, we have the best part. Carrillo Puerto has many specialties, for example you can find “Empanadas”, they are a tortilla with cheese or it can have other things, for example ground beef, ham and cheese. That's something common but what about the traditional tamales?  Just in Carrillo Puerto you can try the traditional “PIB tamales”, which we usually have at the day of dead, for the traditional “Feria de los Tres Reyes” and for special dates such as birthdays and weddings. This has been a very long process. We have something called “Masa” that is made with corn and water. When we have the “masa”, we can start to make the tamales. We can add beans and meat. Then put it in banana leafs and it is cooked. Also you can try the “atole” , which is a Mayan drink. Something that just the Mayan world has. 

Talking about traditions: We commemorate the day of dead like nobody else. We put an altar for the people that are not with us. It usually has two levels. At the first level we put food, drinks, candies and things that the children and the younger people love. On the next level we put things for older people. Usually it has two levels symbolizing the sky and the earth. It is commemorated on November first and second. The tradition is that on these days people who have already died come to visit their families. 

Another tradition that prevails in Quintana Roo is the “Hetzmek”, that is considered the Mayan baptism. This tradition consists of holding the baby between the side of his godfather or godmother and walking around a table nine times. In the table should be objects that represent skills or characteristics that the child should learn or develop, like notebooks, pencils, cookware, work tools, etc. Also they have to try a little bit of egg, pumpkin, Chaya leafs, (Chaya is a Mayan plant), honey and corn, which symbolizes: intelligence, reasoning, sensitivity and sweetness. This must be done at 3 months for the girls and 4 months for the boys. 

Why Carrillo Puerto is considered the heart of the Mayan world: Carrillo Puerto was founded by the Mayan people with the name of “Noj Kaaj Santa Cruz Xbalam Naj”. But now it is known as “Chan Santa Cruz” or Felipe Carrillo Puerto in honor of Felipe Carrillo Puerto a socialist Governor of Yucatan. This small city was founded as a result of the “Guerra de castas”, it was where the Mayans hid after the first defeats. 

In the city we can find the Parish of the “Santa Cruz” that was founded at the beginnings of the city and is known by the Mayan population as “Xbalam Naj”. Also you can find a cultural house that is like a museum that tells the history about the Mayan people.

So Carrillo Puerto is considered the heart of the Mayan world because is a city that conserves its traditions, like the Mayan music, or the instruments that are used, for example we conserve the “Tunkul” that is a Mayan instrument like a drum, it´s made with wood. Also we conserve our traditional dances like the “jarana”. This is a traditional dance that is danced in couples. Usually we can see it at the traditional “Feria de los Tres Reyes”, at the inauguration of this event. For this dance everybody has to wear special clothing. The “Huipil” is made for women, and has some engraved as Mayan flowers. These engraved are handmade and usually are made by the Mayan people. On the other hand, for men they usually wear a “Guayabera” that is like a shirt but with some engraved. 

Another dance is the “Chicleros”. This dance is usually danced by the men and one woman. This dance tells the history of the men that work doing the bubble gum and how they fight by a woman. 

Also in Carrillo you can find people that are still speaking in Mayan language, from grandparents to their children.

Abigail with her parents

In conclusion, this is just a part of the History, traditions and traditional food from Felipe Carrillo Puerto, the traditions are an important part of our culture and this still in our community like a reminder of who we are. 

Abigail during an educational program in the US