Huicholes

Although mainly converted to Christianity, the Huicholes are polygamous and usually pray to deities of nature, such as the sun, fire, water and fertility. Their celebrations include the local change of headman around January 1st, Carnival, Holy Week and various festivals connected with the harvest. They are all linked by special rituals, including particular foods, drinks, music, dances, sacrifices, etc.

Area of Settlement

Today these people are settled in the east of Nayarit beween La Yesca and Guadalupe de Ocotán; in the north of Jalisco in, among other places, Santa Catarina, Mexquitic, San Andrés Cohamiapa, San Sebastián and Tuxpan de Bolañas; in Zacatecas in Colotlán and in Durango in Huazamote.

Within their five politico-geographical districts the Huicholes practise extensive self-administration.

Although costumes vary from village to village, the Huicholes typically wear cotton shirts colourfully embroidered with cross-stitch with geometric and stylised patterns. Over these they wear a row of brightly-embroidered belts and bags hanging on colourful ribbons. The broad-brimmed hats, woven from palm fibres, are decorated with bright felt and wool.

Handicraft produced by the women usually comprises embroidered blouses, bags, belts, skirts and ribbons; for their religious ceremonies they make paper flowers, symbolic arrows, pockets, pearl-decorated pumpkins, miniature reproductions of objects used in their everyday lives or of animals or ritual objects in numerous shapes and colours. Of most interest are undoubtedly the "thread paintings", created by sticking multi-coloured threads on to a piece of wood smeared with beeswax. These thread pictures depict deer, Peyotl, corn and other religious and symbolic motifs.