Find out through this interesting post, all about the Totonac clothing, where the women were expert weavers and embroiderers, in addition to other details of this culture. Do not miss this article, you will surely learn more about this culture.
Totonac clothing: characteristics in men and women
The clothing of this culture refers to the way of dressing of a Mesoamerican indigenous people located mainly in the state of Puebla (Mexico). The clothing of this community is one of the few items that has not undergone significant changes over time. Its most notable transformations took place in the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries.
The first change of clothing was influenced by the Conquest of the Spanish, which began in 1519. The Hispanics led the aborigines to design decent and complete clothing to present themselves to society.
The second change was generated by the arrival of capitalism in Mexico. This event replaced the manufacturing work done by the natives, as various production and clothing industries were created.
However, it must be taken into account that, beyond the restructuring of the wardrobe, each item of clothing worn by the inhabitants of this caste represents the essence of being Mexican. The Totonacas symbolized the identity of the Mesoamerican people through clothing.
totonacas
The Totonac ethnic group lived in the states of Puebla, Veracruz, and Hidalgo. At the beginning of the XNUMXth century, they were located in the municipalities of Pahuatlán, Zacatlán, Jalacingo, Xalapa and Atzalan. In other words, they occupied most of the territory.
However, in the mid-XNUMXth century, a process of acculturation took place. Due to the limitations dictated by the Spanish during the war, the Totonacs had to share their lands with other tribes, especially the Nahuas.
To prevent the locals from continuing to link emotionally and biologically with other social groups, many of them decided to settle in other areas. This is how they were located in the border areas of the Sierra Madre Orientale and near the Cazones and Tecolutla rivers.
These places were characterized by varied climates, because in one week it could be both hot and cold. The weather was tropical, it is for this reason that the ethnic population decided to restore their clothing. The goal was to adapt it to unexpected atmospheric changes.
Clothing
Below we will give details such as the clothing of this ethnic group, characteristics, testimonies, differences between women and men.
Features
The costumes of the Totonacs were adjusted not only to climatic variations, but also to sacred ceremonies. According to their world view, it was essential to wear a costume for ritual practices, which consisted of feathers that were to be worn by both men and women.
The male had to put on a kind of black jumpsuit with colored flowers and a yellow ribbon that wrapped around the top of the panties. Instead, women's clothing consisted of white dresses and red coats worn at the waist or shoulders.
This costume was used in dances performed to seek marital well-being, increase fertility, and dispel disease. The idea was to captivate, through dance and clothing, the God of the Sun and his wife, the Goddess of Corn.
Thus, we observe that the garment was appreciated as an offering to the deities. It symbolized purity and stability, so they avoided dark fabrics without details.
The Totonacs designed and sewed clothing. Before beginning their weaving work, they prayed in the hope that the deities would accompany them during their tasks.
Testimonials
According to historians, years before the arrival of the Spaniards, the inhabitants of this tribe covered themselves only with a fragment of palm tree tissue, today known as guayuco. This cloth hid only the private parts. Furthermore, these indigenous peoples were always barefoot.
It was during colonization that the Totonacas began to shape their customs. They unified Hispanic traditions with their daily habits. For this reason, they did not adapt to the dress of civilization, but rather recreated it.
The result of this union was exhibited by Fray Juan de Torquemada (1557-1624) in the first decade of the 1600s. This Franciscan expressed that the native attire resembled hummingbirds due to its agility and color.
On the contrary, the clothes of the knights could be related to the herons for their elegance and cleanliness. Currently, classic clothing is only used by older people or for cultural events.
In males
The men's wardrobe was adapted for everyday tasks, so they tried to make it comfortable. It consisted of loose long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and a scarf that was placed around the neck and dropped down the back.
In the mid-1950s, the model of the pants was changed, since they were no longer as wide but narrower and shorter. This is because the ladies stopped making the clothes, which was made in the textile centers.
Men's attire also included a hat made of palms and rubber shoes with leather straps. The colors they used were white, blue and red.
According to the ceremony, they were adorned with multicolored capes, quetzal feather caps, and bracelets. Some of the terms used for clothing include:
-Tataanú: pants.
-Makan: shirt.
-Tatanu: shoes.
In women
Women's clothing consisted of a long embroidered skirt and a triangular shawl-like shirt. These garments were distinguished by their light colors, although for embroidery it was allowed to handle threads of primary or bright tones.
It should be noted that native women wore black skirts only on cold or rainy days. They considered dark tones to fight Tlaloc's pride. Another of their usual clothes was the large coat or poncho, which could be made of wool or cotton.
In addition, the coat was used to transport newborns. The Totonacos wore rubber sandals, tattooed their faces with red ink, and generally braided their hair if they were married or engaged.
They were adorned with feathers, ribbons, jade necklaces, shell earrings, and waist or head belts. It is fair to mention that it was in the 20th century that the Aborigines began to wear industrial cover dresses. Some words that have been used to denote combinations are:
-Quexquémitl: shirt.
-Lhakgat: dress.
-Kgan: skirt.
-Huarachi: sandal.
-Aklhwik: coat.
General characteristics of this ethnic group
As noted, the culture of this ethnic group brought together and incorporated many peculiarities of other peoples, such as the Olmecs or the Teotihuacans. With these influences and their own collaborations, they created an important civilization that spread to Oaxaca.
Etymology
The word "totonaca", according to the Nahuatl or Mexican dictionary, is the plural of "totonacatl" and is narrated as the residents of the Totonacapan region are. Some scholars point out that "Totonaco" could be interpreted as "man of the hot land".
On the other hand, in the Totonac language, the word has the meaning of "three hearts", which would refer to the three great ceremonial centers raised by this culture: El Tajín, Papantla and Cempoala.
Sociopolitical organization
The little information found in reference to the social and political structure of their culture. The studies carried out are based on archaeological findings and the most accepted theory is that it was a society segmented into several social classes.
This social pyramid was directed by the nobility, made up of the Cacique in power, the rest of the authorities and the priests. They were all responsible for controlling all areas of power, from politics to religion to the economy.
His government, as indicated, was headed by the Cacique, assisted by the Council of Elders. For their part, the priests have also played a major role in this culture. His duties included conducting ceremonial services, conducting astronomical observations, and performing ceremonies.
This religious caste was governed by the procurators (members of the Council of Elders) and, after them, the mayordomos (patrons of the festivals) and the topiles (responsible for the maintenance of the temples). As for the base of the pyramid, it was made up of commoners, the majority of the inhabitants. They were in charge of agricultural production, crafts, fishing, and construction.
Food
The Totonacs took advantage of the fertility of the land they inhabited to cultivate large areas of corn. However, unlike other pre-Columbian civilizations, this cereal was not the mainstay of their diet. This role was played by fruits such as sapote, guava, avocado or avocado.
According to experts, the peasants and nobles have agreed on the composition of their first meal of the day: corn porridge. As for lunch, the nobles ate stews with beans and yucca, seasoned with meat sauce. The poor, although they follow a similar diet, cannot afford these sauces.
In addition to these foods, humans are known to fish for sharks and hunt turtles, armadillos, deer, or frogs. For their part, the women raised dogs and turkeys. These two aspects lead us to think that these animals were incorporated into the diet.
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