Traditions

Deeply rooted in their customs, festivals and traditions the inhabitants of this wonderful state, as rich in history and legend as it is in archaeological and natural wonders, have been able to maintain their quintessential nature through generations. Traditionally, Yucatecans sleep in hammocks, eat muc-bil pollo on the day of the dead, and spend the summer in the port. The men wear guayaberas and the women huipiles or ternos. But there's one thing that really distinguishes Yucatan from the rest of Mexico, and that's romance. The music of Yucatan, known as trova and played by troubadours or trios, has brought international fame to Yucatecan composers and poets like Ricardo Palmerin, Guty Cardenas, Pepe Dominguez, Ricardo Lopez, Ermilo Padron, Sergio Esquivel and Armando Manzanero.

The Maya cultivated a genre of pentaphonic music (having five tones) known as xtole. Using diverse instruments they expressed their feelings in dances dedicated to the gods and to war. After the conquest, the colonizers tried to substitute these dances by introducing their own rhythms like the seguidillas and the fandango accompanied by the guitar, castanets, violin and baroque flute, with melodies punctuated by occasional short verses, known as bombas. However, resistance to the changes grew, and the rhythms became impregnated with markedly Indian tones, giving birth to what we know today as the Yucatecan Jarana, a dance which has its origins in the stamping jota aragonesa, and the Valencian waltz. There was also a strong influence of African and Cuban music and Colombian bambuco, resulting in the birth of Yucatecan Trova. Thanks to the creative genius of Ricardo Palmerin who, around 1920, adapted those rhythms with more romantic lyrics and elegant phrasing, Trova has earned renown and prestige in the eyes of Mexico and the rest of the world.

Despite the fact that scientific and technological advances have significantly altered a large part of our existence, Yucatecans still enjoy family life, rides in horse-drawn carriages, the humble horchata and a good serving of cochinita pibil. This is thanks to the teachings of institutions as old as the family or church itself, preserving values which are just as distinguishing as language, dress or beliefs. Hanal Pixan, or Day of the Dead, is proof of this and represents one of the most deeply rooted traditions of the state. On this day, families erect altars for their deceased members, decorated with flowers, candles, crosses, photographs, personal effects of the dead, food and drink. The traditional mucbil pollo is prepared with lard, cornmeal, epazote, achiote, chicken, pork and spices. It's then wrapped in banana leaves and baked underground, later to be eaten accompanied with a tasty cup of hot chocolate.