Originally published on May 9, 2009, this article takes us to the annual all-Michoacán Tianguis Artesanal Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday Artisans' Fair) in Uruapan, Michoacán. The 2022 fair opened on April 9 and runs until April 24. It has ONE MORE WEEK to go this year--don't miss it!
Waving papel picado (cut paper) dance sticks and elegantly dressed in red velveteen aprons trimmed with lace, these Purépecha women danced their way through the opening day parade at the annual statewide Tianguis Artesanal.
Mexico Cooks! has attended the Tianguis Artesanal de Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday Artisans' Fair) in Uruapan, Michoacán, nearly every year for nearly 15 years. The two-week-long fair is always the same and yet never boring, a remarkable combination. This largest artisans' fair in Latin America draws as many as 1400 artisans, vendors and contestants for the best-of-the-best from all over the state of Michoacán. It attracts huge international tourism: I've heard languages from all over the globe as we walk the vendors' aisles. This year, the event expects to receive as many as 650,000 visitors!
Purépecha women's festive ropa típica (native dress) includes the enaguas (knife-pleated skirt), a hand-embroidered huanengo (blouse), a cross-stitch delantal (apron), and the long, rectangular blue, black, and white striped rebozo (long rectangular shawl) that is typical to the region.
This woman marched while carrying an enormous huarache (flat shoe made of woven leather strips) representing the goods that her region of the state produces. She's also carrying a bag of souvenir key chains that she tossed to individuals in the crowd. Look closely and you'll see the tiny huarache key chains that decorate her sombrero de paja (straw hat).
Wow, an all-women band with clarinets, trumpets, trombones, and a pink tuba--what a great idea!
Artisans show and sell thousands of traditional handmade clay pots and pitchers. These beauties are from Tzintzuntzan, Michoacán.
This fabulously beautiful little girl couldn't have been more than four years old, and she was marching in the opening parade with many of the artisans of her village.
The parade is over, these young women take a rest from the long walk. The ribbons are typical of the Purépecha traje de gala (here, very elegant women's clothing).
Hand-hammered copper art from Santa Clara del Cobre.
Michoacán is famous world-wide for its traditional arts and crafts. For hundreds of years, artisans in this state have produced highly decorated articles made from locally found materials: clay, wood, lacquer, textiles, copper, reedwork, and paper maché, among others.
Ollas para frijoles (clay pots for cooking beans) from Capula, Michoacán.
Molinillos (little mills) are whirled between your hands for whipping chocolate caliente (hot chocolate) to a thick froth.
These blue jarras y platones (pitchers and platters) with their finely painted, intricate white designs come from one family workshop in the pottery village of Capula. Mexico Cooks! does not...DOES NOT...have room in the house for more pottery. Well, maybe just one more piece! These glorious jarras were all but impossible to resist.
Clay sculptures from Ocumicho, Michoacán, are full of whimsy and bright colors. Among all of these huaris (the Purépecha word for women), did you notice Our Lady of Guadalupe, in the upper right corner?
Hand-embroidered traditional cotton huanengos (blouses) are so important and finely made that they have their own concurso (competition) at the Tianguis Artesanal (Artisans' Fair).
Come enjoy this wonderful event with us!
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