The municipality of Campeche is bordered on the north by the municipality of Tenabo, east with the municipality of Hopelchén, south by the municipality of Champoton and west by the Gulf of Mexico.
Historical Review
There are various theories about the origin of the word Campeche. The first suggests that derives from the Mayan word "Can" (snake) and "Pech" (tick) and means "place of snakes and ticks." The name is because in this Mayan village was a statue of a snake with a tick on the head like a totem animals and at whose feet were made human sacrifices.
Another theory is that Campeche derives from the word "kin" (sun god) and "Pech". It also assumes that before this name can be added the prefix "O" which means "place" and collectively say "Place of Mr. Sun tick god."
The third theory is based on the previous terminology: "Ah Kin Pech," but with the clarification that Pech is the name of a priest. Assumed that the meaning is "place of Mr Pech worshiper of the Sun."
When the Spanish conquistadors came to Can Pech, named the place with the name of San Lazaro, having arrived on a Sunday day of San Lazaro. When they heard the name from the native’s mouths they Castilianized the pronunciation and called the newfound city Campeche.
Beginning the conquest of Yucatan, the Spanish renamed the town with the name of Salamanca of Campeche and consummate the conquest of Yucatan, was renamed again as Villa de San Francisco de Campeche. For mid-twentieth century, was established to be called Campeche de Baranda in honor of the famous frigate captain Pedro Sainz de Baranda, but time soon was simplified to Campeche, current name until today.
Festivals, Dances and Traditions
The carnival has its origins in the busy holidays festivities that celebrated ancient peoples at different times of year. The word derives from two etymologies, an Italian "Carnevale" which means "meat for God " and "Carrus Navalis" which alludes to "Naval car"; with wheels as it was passing through the streets.
In the Mayan culture, specifically in the Yucatan Peninsula the celebration lasted five days and was called "Pochob." With the arrival of the Spanish, the Mayan elements are mixed with Spanish culture.
The Carnival of Campeche has more than 450 years performing, so it has become the oldest of Mexico. The order of the festivities is:
Memorial service and burial of bad mood: It represents the death of the bad mood to give way to joy. The moodiness is represented as a rag doll with pirate resemblance. She walks the streets of the city and on the boardwalk of our city is placed in a coffin and burned by "The Death."
Festival of Flowers: It's the second carnival parade where participant queens of the leading clubs, societies, schools and private companies ride carriages decorated with paper flowers.
The Rooster: The queens and kings walk the streets of the Historic Center, takes place the second Monday before Ash Wednesday.
Presentation of the Kings: Celebration for three consecutive nights at an outdoor theater. The presentation highlights are: The Kings of Instituto Campechano, the kings of the UAC, the kings of the Carnival of Campeche, child kings, The juvenile star, los Reyes.
Corso: Participation of children in nursery school, kindergarten, elementary and private clubs. Leading the parade the carnival kids kings.
Sábado de bando: Parade prior to Ash Wednesday with floats, groups of people dressed in costumes walk the Bando. Throughout the day the music turn the dancers on in the awnings until late at night.
Wetting Monday: Monday before Ash Wednesday. The activity involves the children of the city celebrate throwing water from buckets and water balloons. This tradition has been lost over time.
Painting Tuesday: It is customary meeting of neighbors and friends in the traditional awnings and doors of their houses, or they go to places where there is music. Groups of people are painted each others.
The burning of "Juan Carnaval". Carnival concludes with the burning of a rag doll that represents the carnival and who bears the name "John", while is mourned by his widows. It symbolizes the end of the festivities.
Among the most popular dances in the city of Campeche are:
• La Guaranducha
• El Pichito amoroso
• El Pregonero Mi tierra
• El baile del sombrero
San Román Black Christ Fair
The religious festival that has now become fair, and at the same time is the most important in the state, is the one of San Román district and has its origin in the veneration of the Black Christ of the same name since the time it was brought to the city of Campeche in September 1685.
The festivities take place from September 13 until shortly after the 20th of that month, putting various attractions such as rides, snack tents, dances, parades, cultural exhibitions, Palenques, the traditional Campeche lottery and the religious festivals and pilgrimages to the Lord of San Roman.
The boom and the main day is September 16, when we celebrate the anniversary of the Independence of Mexico which coincides with the celebration of the neighborhood, and therefore attracts state, national and foreign tourism.
The Black Christ of San Roman, is so called because the ebony wood on which is carved is black, which has not needed to be polished again, because the image is kept intact to this day.
Feria De San Francisco De Asis
As traditional and lively as the festivals of San Román, but less popular. The festivals of San Francisco, the patron of the church, the neighborhood of the same name and the city (shown on the coat of arms), take place just one week after the holidays of the Black Christ.
It enjoys a wide variety of shows: the Campeche lottery, greasy pole and greasy pig contest, rides, snack tents, dances, religious ceremonies and pilgrimages.
The festivities conclude on the first Sunday of October under the joy and happiness of the neighborhood of San Francisco residents.
In some towns in the municipality of Campeche such as San Francisco Kobén, Hampolol, Nilchí and Castamay also observe the traditional festivals in which matches both the indigenous and the Hispanic culture. Before Spanish rule, both made parties for their deities. If the Maya revered Chac, god of rain, the Spanish revered San Isidro Labrador.
The first name given to San Francisco Kobén was "Montenegro" named after Don Macedonio Novelo, first laborer who arrive to work the land now occupied by the village. On September 12, 1945 the ejido was founded under its current name, referring to the headquarters of a nearby hacienda known as Kobén, inhabited by peasants who brought the image of Saint Francis of Assisi.
The oldest inhabitants say that the first church was a simple wooden hut with thatched palm roof, inside was placed the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows brought by Halachó farmers when settle in the place, same as the San Francisco de Asis brought by a priest named Tenabo Sarmiento, the saint eventually became the patron of the place.
However, despite the fact that San Francisco is the central figure of the church, the people worship more fervently to Our Lady of Sorrows. Recently were tried to inculcate a celebration honoring the saint, but because a unbelieving man destroyed the image, the festivities lasted a short time.
Currently, the Virgin festivities are made in late April, starting with the novena to the Virgin, where every night keeper is in charge to clean the church, adorn it with flowers and at the end of every novena distribute candies from the region.
The last three days (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) are held bullfights, popular dances and the traditional dance of pig's head performed by local dancers, wearing suits and blouses they made.
Hampolol is one of the first towns founded in the Yucatan Peninsula, according to historical references showing their existence since the sixteenth century, years after the foundation of Campeche town and port.
Its name comes from the Mayan words Ham (violent, quick, soon), Pol (Honing, fighting) and Lol (flower), which translated into Spanish means "Flower made quickly." However, older people argue that Hampolol means "between worms."
The main religious festival is celebrated in honor of San Antonio de Padua, patron of the place. Starts on June 4 with the descent of the religious image. For nine days, are held novenas and Masses organized by the guilds, composed by families who previously request a night to venerate the saint in company of common people.
June 11, 12 and 13 are the most important days for parishioners because during the Mass are carried out baptisms, confirmations and first communions as a gift to San Antonio. Normally, on June 12 a folk dance is performed, which is interrupted at midnight to take mañanitas to the Patron Saint, traversed by the same band.
The last day afternoon Tinún dancers come to dance the pig's head, after the event cochinita tacos are dispensed, half at the house where the animal was donated and the other half at the home of the man who will be responsible for preparing it the following year.
After the evening Mass the procession takes place with the church patron through the main streets of the town, ending religious activities. The festivities conclude with the highly anticipated Gala Ball at the Plaza Principal, where attendees bring out their best clothes.
On the significance of Nilchí, Santiago Pacheco Cruz said that Nil is defined as quick or quicker, and Chi as small round yellow fruits; translated into Spanish means "Eating nanche fast."
The image venerated in this place is the Virgin of Guadalupe, whom they recognize as its patron saint. The holidays in December are celebrated in her honor where "patronos" or organizers are responsible for seeking in advance the "nocheras" that will make the novenas.
The novena begins December 4 ending on the 12 th, a day before it is customary to remove the religious banners from the "patrono´s" house to take them to church on a journey that is accompanied by musicians singing and playing instruments known as "Chuhumes" which are a kind of drums that are shaped like large pots, people goes by holding candles decorated with flowers, and also can not miss the classic “voladores” (fireworks). At twelve o'clock of December the 11th , the local musicians (chuhumes) and the common people sing “mañanitas” to the Virgin.
On the morning of December the 12th fireworks announce that are killing the pig to perform the dance with his head, where Nilchí girls participate. After concluding Mass at noon, the image is paraded in procession through the main streets of the place.
As is customary in the Camino Real villages, the festival concludes with a popular ball, and about three in the morning the religious banners and pig's head are carryied into the house of the man who organize the festivities next year.
On behalf of Castamay name, Santiago Pacheco Cruz says that may arise from Kaz-Tamay or Kaztamay which means literally "swearing or backbiting is ugly", as Kaz means ugly or bad and Tamay means blasphemy.
Currently the village main festivals are held in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe, however years ago San Antonio was the patron saint of the place. Some people say that this change because in a time of extreme drought, the people made a novena to San Antonio to make the rain fall, but his prayers were unsuccessful, so to show their displeasure they fell San Antonio from his altar and relegated him to the side of the church, then the people showed remorse, but never returned him to its original site, leaving in place the Virgin of Guadalupe.
The feasts of the Virgin are carried out from December 4 to 12 with the traditional novena involving the unions of Grocers, of diners, from taxi drivers, from the neighborhoods of Abelardo Carrillo Zavala and Miguel Hidalgo, from the Bible Youth Movement of Catechism, of Praise and Irrigation Units. The final day pig's head dance is performed and the procession follows, culminating in a festival in which all the people cooperate and participate.
The Three Kings and San Antonio also have their party on January 6 and June 13 respectively, where the activities are exclusively religious.
