Totonac myth tells of a time when there was a drought, and food and water became scarce on earth. Five young men decided they should send a messageto Xipe Totec, god of fertility, so that the rains return and fertilize the soil and their crops would thrive again. They entered the forest and searched for the tallest tree and straighter.
When they found the perfect tree, they stayed with him overnight, fasting and praying for the tree to help them in their purpose. They blessed the tree, then cut him and took him to their village.
The men stripped the tree, they dug a hole to fix it vertically and then blessed the site with ritual offerings. The men adorned their bodies with feathers so that they appear as Xipe Totec birds in the hope of attracting the attention of God to their important request. With cords wrapped around their waists, they secured the pole and made their plea to fly with the unnerving sound emanating from the flute and drum.
In pre-Hispanic times the ritual of the Flyers was carried out in much of Mexico reaching as far south as what is now Nicaragua. Was done every 52 years (inthe changes of the century), transmitting the tradition from father to son.
At the time of the conquest, the church fought hard against what he considered pagan practices and rituals of worship and the Indians were silenced or held insecret. Later, indigenous beliefs were combined with Catholic religious dogma, creating a syncretism of faith. The flight of the flyer was considered an interesting game for the colony in New Spain, and some special places were built to stop the Flyers appear before a curious public. After a while, the ritual fell into disuse, to the point that only some Totonac and Otomi performed this ancient practice.
Today, the Totonac people do the flights for several reasons. First, it keeps some of his pride and traditional culture alive. Second, it provides additional income for the Flyers and their families. Usually a donation is requested after each flight. Also made frequent flights on weekends and evenings on the squares of the Totonac towns as well as important festivals forthe town. And finally, it provides a sense of racial pride. Like other folk dances and music around the world, is a way to celebrate the cultural heritage and diversity.
The Flyers are a source of great pride for the people of Totonocapan - Totonac region. In Papantla, the world center of the vanilla industry, a statue of a large stone Flying looking down into the city from one of the highest points. The Flyers are a living testimony of the ancestors who founded Papantla Totonac in 1200 and continues to maintain the rich cultural heritage of this region of Mexico.
By Cleo
