Tabasco - Culture

Culture

Traditional masculine dress consists of a white shirt and pants, with black boots or shoes, black belt, a hat in a style called “chontal” and a red handkerchief around the neck. This dress is based on an older style of dress called “traje choco” which was made of cotton cloth called manta used to work in the fields. Traditional feminine dress consists of a wide skirt trimmed with a ruffle. Under the skirt is a slip designed to fluff the skirts appearance and made the waist look smaller. The blouse is white with an embroidered band in bright colors often with flower and/or animal designs. It has short sleeves ending in a square form in the lower part. The woman often carried a small handkerchief and a shawl called a rebozo in bright colors, often complementing the skirt. The shoes are black.

The state has a number of unique traditional dances due to its relative isolation from the rest of the country. These include “El Gigante” of Nacajuca performed on 14 August. “Baila Viejo” is performed in Tucta and Guaytalpa in the municipality of Nacajuca as well as the Atasta de Serra in Villahermosa. “El Pochó” is of pre Hispanic origin and performed during Carnival in Tenosique. “Los Blanquitos” is also performed in Tenosique and symbolized the struggled of black slaves during the colonial period. “El Caballito Blanco” depicts the struggles of the indigenous against the Spanish at the Battle of Centla. “El Zapateo” is said to be derived from the fandango, brought to the area by a conquistador called Ortíz de Séquito. It is considered to be the regional dance of the state.

Traditional music has its origins in the Olmec period with other indigenous influences such as those of the Maya, Mexicas and Nahuas. It is based on flute and percussion, including drums made of tortoise shells and flutes/whistles made of ceramic. Purely indigenous music has almost entirely disappeared, replaced by that of European influence. Fandango influence was the first to arrived, which was modified then called fandanguillo leading to songs called zapateos in the colonial period, played by small orchestras. These were mostly composed of wind instruments but the marimba and drums called temborileros were added. This music was accompanied by a dance of the same name. Later, short improvised rhymes called “bombas” were added varying by region often consisting of a man and woman answering each other.

The cuisine is based on the foods of the ancient Mayas and Chontals, using plants and animals native to the region such as achiote, chili peppers, chipilin and banana leaves, with corn and beans serving as the base. (amashito) Traditionally, people in Tabasco eat seven times a day, these meals are called “puntal” (after getting out of bed), breakfast, “refigerio,” “apertivo,” “comida,” “merienda” and “cena.” This regime is based on rural work customs which required starting the day before the sun rose. Typical dishes include those with iguana meat, Lepisosteus fish, beef puchero, smoked oysters, totopostes, pork with beans and tortillas made with banana and fresh corn. Chocolate is still found in preparations which have not changed since pre Hispanic times mostly as hot and cold beverages. The most common cold chocolate beverage is pozol, served fresh or fermented. Each of the regions has certain specialties. Teapa is known for its cheese and longaniza sausage. Jalpa de Méndez produces head cheese, longaniza sausage and another cured meat called butifarra. Macuspana’s dishes are often based on ingredients from the area’s rivers such as bass, turtle and Lepisosteus. Paraíso is known for its oysters, often cooked in their shell over an open flame. Jalapa is known for its sweets such as sweetened fruits in corn husks, often accompanied by a cacao and corn beverage called chorote.

Tabasco is host to the boating marathon called the Mundo Maya on the Usumacinta and Grijalva rivers.

The state has sixteen important museums. Most are located in the Villahermosa area but others can be found in Comalcalco, Huimanguillo, Balancán, Emiliano Zapata, Jalpa de Méndez, Jonuta and Teapa. These include the Carlos Pellicer Museum (anthropology) Museum of Popular Culture, Museum of History and the La Venta site museum.

Patron saint days are still popular events in the state, with some of the more notable being San Isidro in Comalcalco and Nacajuca, the Apostle James in Chontalpa, Our Lady of the Remedies in Nacajuca, Our Lady of the Assumption in Cupilco, Francis of Asissi in Tamulté de las Sabanas, events related with Lent in Atasta and Tamulté and the Saint Sebastian in Tenosique. There are also notable Carnival celebrations in Pochó, Tenosique and Villahermosa.