A group of men dressed in Totonac costumes are seen on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, while performing the ritual of the 'Voladores de Papantla' (by their name in Spanish), in the Fundadores Park, in Playa del Carmen, belonging to the municipality of Solidaridad (Mexico). A tall mast, the sounds of the tambourine and the piccolo, are fundamental elements of the ritual of the 'Voladores de Papantla' who return to Playa del Carmen after the break caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The ritual ceremony of the 'Voladores de Papantla' is considered Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. This ritual arrived in Playa del Carmen (Solidaridad) in March 2012, being the first cultural attraction on Fifth Avenue; In December of the same year, the Mayan Portal was installed, which strengthened the tourist area, attracting locals and foreigners. During this ritual you can see how five dancers climb a tall mast until they reach the highest part. There, one of them stands on the platform to start the 'Voladores de Papantla' dance while playing melodies with piccolo and tambourine in honor of the Sun and the four elements. Next, the other four dancers tied to the mast by long ropes launch themselves from the platform and descend in turns that imitate the flight of birds until they reach the ground. The 'Voladores de Papantla' ceremony is a cultural ritual event that dates back to the year 1,300 A.D., when severe droughts hit the Totonac region, in the current state of Veracruz (Gulf of M
A group of men dressed in Totonac costumes are seen on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, while performing the ritual of the 'Voladores de Papantla' (by their name in Spanish), in the Fundadores Park, in Playa del Carmen, belonging to the municipality of Solidaridad (Mexico). A tall mast, the sounds of the tambourine and the piccolo, are fundamental elements of the ritual of the 'Voladores de Papantla' who return to Playa del Carmen after the break caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The ritual ceremony of the 'Voladores de Papantla' is considered Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. This ritual arrived in Playa del Carmen (Solidaridad) in March 2012, being the first cultural attraction on Fifth Avenue; In December of the same year, the Mayan Portal was installed, which strengthened the tourist area, attracting locals and foreigners. During this ritual you can see how five dancers climb a tall mast until they reach the highest part. There, one of them stands on the platform to start the 'Voladores de Papantla' dance while playing melodies with piccolo and tambourine in honor of the Sun and the four elements. Next, the other four dancers tied to the mast by long ropes launch themselves from the platform and descend in turns that imitate the flight of birds until they reach the ground. The 'Voladores de Papantla' ceremony is a cultural ritual event that dates back to the year 1,300 A.D., when severe droughts hit the Totonac region, in the current state of Veracruz (Gulf of Mexico). Legend has it that, in order to improve the situation, an old wise man commissioned four young men to cut down the tallest and most robust tree on the mountain "in order to ask the gods for their benevolence to grant them generous rains that would restore their fertility to the land.” Each 'volador' covers his head with a conical cap, complemented with a small multicolored fan-shaped plume that simulates the tuft of a bird, in addition to symbolizing the sun's rays that come from a small round mirror that represents the star. The outfit has bead and spikelet decorations; the use of the color red is considered representative of the blood of the dead dancers and the warmth of the sun. The priest stands dancing at the top of the mast, points out the four cardinal points, turning 360 degrees, and then goes to the sound of flight, a sound that evokes rain. When the fliers descend, they form the Tajin pyramid in thirteen turns, which multiplied by four symbolizes the 52 weeks of the Totonac year. The ritual of the 'Voladores de Papantla' is divided into three parts: The first is the Dance of Forgiveness which is done in honor of the mountain god for entering the mountain to look for a tree. The second is the Dance of Permission to cut him down, followed by the Dance of Thanks for his sacrifice. Finally, the happy sound of the Huahua related to agricultural, solar and cosmogonic rituals. (Photo by Hugo Ortuño)