San Andrés Mixquic
san andres míxquic community located southeast distrito federal mexico city borough tláhuac community founded th century small island lake chalco “míxquic” mean “in mesquite” community culture history based chinampas garden floating lake water tied island drainage lake chalco th th century eventually destroyed chinampas community still agricultural nature despite officially territory mexico city san andres míxquic best known day dead commemoration consist ritual cultural event lasting october november event draw thousand mexican international visitor culminate alumbrada cemetery surround community main church glow thousand candle smoke incense evening november community designated barrio mágico city community mixquic likely founded around th century people migrated xochimilco prehispanic period mixquic small island lake chalco around inhabitant built chinampas floating garden originally community independent dominion location prime chinampa territory subsequently subdued xochimilco chalco azcapotzalco finally tenochtitlan bernal diaz del castillo describes mixquic true history conquest new spain full white tower temple initially named spaniard “venezuela” similarity venice hernán cortés subdued area may soldier mixquic helped subdue tenochtitlan bad relation colonial era area initially direct control spanish crown later became encomienda remained th century monastery san andres apostol constructed friar jorge de avila geronimo de san esteban community mixquic became ecclesiastical seat surrounding area four cross placed following neighborhood san agustín san miguel san bartolomé los reyes forming rectangle original dimension main church atriumcemetery later modified due reform law part allow construction cristóbal colon primary school andrés quintana roo library second half th century first project drain lake chalco undertaken however endeavor would finished era porfirio diaz late th century early th village mixquic became integrated mexico city area would longterm implication city authority would control community resource particular water mexican revolution monastery occupied force loyal venustiano carranza first half th century community managed preserve many chinampas using well water longer feasible ending community lake culture however farming still major economic activity main producer vegetable federal district community three km used agricultural purpose half land ejido produce sold giant centro de abastos food market city life changing community becomes integrated mexico city proper private vehicle public transportation available leading community younger generation seek employment city andor education university center village church exmonastery san andres apostol monastery constructed friar jorge de avila geronimo de san esteban church monastery built teocalli sacred precinct mixquic first church demolished original bell tower remaining current church date built three nave cupola separate bell tower original church old monastery wall cm thick constructed tezontle church monastery complex declared historic monument courtyard old monastery number prehispanic archeological find display first sculpture miquiztli mixquixtli goddess life death another significant find chac mool displayed two ring old mesoamerican ballcourt lastly column figure quetzalcoatl skull sculpted volcanic stone andres quintana roo library also town site museum museum fourteen glass case containing piece old teocalli area around mixquic archeological collection museum hold donated socorro bernal roque native village piece clay stone belong late postclassic period– piece belong toltec teotihuacan culture among piece stand chac mool vestige teotlachtli clay stone seal coiled serpent snake tzompantli calendar hollowed make baptismal font small area canal chinampas still exists near town member legislative assembly distrito federal mexico city demanding mayor city solicit community world heritage site claim area physical characteristic environmental impact unique world area importance migrating bird recharge zone local aquifer main church cemetery archeological site world heritage site status would help preserve promote cultural value day dead important celebration community two day ritual cultural event november village church graveyard become famous mexico city metropolitan area around cemetery thousand mexican international visitor experience sight sound smell ritual cultural event stand selling food craft item modern celebration extension cult dead existed since prehispanic time excavation area revealed large quantity stone skull used adorn facade home area solemn commemoration festivity compete considered part event addition traditional altar dead called “ofrendas” grave cleaning decoration also play procession poetry reading concert folk dance finale concert susana harp preparation celebration begin two three month advance family begin buy plate utensil used ofrendas woman embroider napkin tablecloth occasion midoctober resident place large paper star lantern doorway remain november purpose star help guide dead come back visit day leading day dead field around community planted cempoalxóchitl bloom fragrance detected aroma fruit season pan de muerto given rise expression “ya huele muertos”now smell like dead “ya se siente muertitos” dear lit little dead felt indicating day dead near public primary school student teacher arrange day dead altar called ofrendas teacher arranging school large altar student creating miniature one sometimes theme placed public display ofrendas cristobal colon primary school visited due school location near church day celebration begin tomb cleaning repair commences final preparation take place october family ofrendas laid home family variation ritual thing common offering bread flower candle container water paired container salt incense photograph part ritual mixture prehispanic catholic rite addition photograph modern touch mostly offering made privately home altar arranged day element seen cemetery graf one element local donutshaped bread dark pink glaze called “roscas rosas” laid along pan de muertos people open door invite dead visit october november friend family come visit ofrendas visitor bring item ofrendas generally thing deceased liked life visitor come ofrenda grows host reciprocate offering food drink visitor midnight october church bell signal arrival soul child departed ofrendas child often decorated brightly colored toy one traditional toy dog named izcuincle nahuatl dog guide child river chiconauhuapan enter mictlán realm dead day offering left adult believed child get angry sad occurs morning november breakfast laid ofrenda outside ofrenda trail white flower called “alhelí” symbolizes purity soul soul child visit midnight october midday november time “after sun pass zenith” local belief hold “souls child return mictlán” soul adult arrive stay november night fall november air fill music tropical mariachi group also contest among skull fabricated cardboard painted inscribed satire tall tale joke mock funeral procession come featuring supposed widow shout picaresque phrase crowd loss husband carried casket procession move toward graveyard helper solicit contribution “burial” making joke attendee arrive graveyard instead burying supposed husband jump coffin run terrified among crowd causing laughter seven pm november church bell ring signaling beginning hour campanera group youth wander house house carrying bell sing la ánimas benditas le prendemos sus ceritas campanero mi tamal blessed soul light candle campanero tamale receive tamale candy fruit morning november grave cleaning decoration begin earnest graf main cemetery surround church san andres apostal decorated flower especially cempasúchil candle item tomb decorated carefully sometimes elaborately making image virgin cross icon flower flower petal colored sawdust graf prepared alumbrada begin eight pm church bell ring yet time church large ofrenda light dimmed hour cemetery around church full color flower glowing due light thousand burning candle thick smoke copal incense due large number visitor special security operation put place large number officer foot horseback patrol extra equipment traffic control provided sale alcohol restricted certain zone certain hour