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Published: March 14th 2010
Sahuayo...my new home.
Formally known as Sahuayo de Morelos the town is situated in the state of Michoacan, near the southern shore of Lake Chapala. It has a population of almost 60,000 and is known for its traditional sandals (huraches) and hats (sombreros).
The name Sahuayo is from the Náhuatl language, and has been interpreted as several different things; however, the favoured definition as translated by Dr. Don Antonio Peñafiel, is that is composed of two elements: tzacual and ayoti. Tzacual is an earthenware vessel shaped by half of a coconut and ayoti means turtle. Thus 'Sahuayo is 'a pot that looks like a turtle'. The turtle is the symbol of Sahuayo.
The first inhabitants of the area were of Aztec origin. Later the region was conquered by the P'urepecha (known as the Tarasco by the Spanish). Led by Tzitispandacuare the Tarascans defended their territories against the Aztecs. The Tarascans flourished in Mexico from 1100CE to 1530CE and although their exact origins are unknown linguistic similarities to the Quechua language of South America suggest they came from further south. The Tarascans and Aztecs were enemies and were frequently at war with each other. The Spanish empire saw the end
of both empires. Knowing the Spaniards were on their way to the Aztec capital of Tenochitlan the Aztecs sent emissaries to the Tarascans to ask for assistence in fighting the Spaniards. Instead, the Tarascans sacrificed the Aztec messengers. Tenochitland fell in 1520 after a bloody seige and a scant two years later the Tarascan Empire was conquered too.
Part of the Spanish army came to the Chapala Valley and surrounding area. They were led by Don Alonso de Avalos who arived in 1531 and set up the province of 'Avalos' which included Tuxpan, Tuzantla, Sayula and Sahuayo. The Spaniards also converted the native peoples to Christianity. Beginning in 1545, a large influx of Spaniards arrived in the area and began to exploit the natural resources of the area. In 1567 the Marquis de Folces turned much of the land into large cattle farms. By the end of the 16th century much of the area was monopolised by the Hacienda de Guaracha. Haciendas were the landed estates of Mexico given to conquistadors in excange for military and social services to the Spanish crown. The Hacienda de Guaracha was mostly aquired through illegal means and by taking over land owned by the
native people, also forcing them to work on the Hacienda. In 1643 Pedro de Salada was able to legalise the Hacienda. Around this disease was decimating the native population and black slaves were brought in to continue working the land.
In 1765 the curate of Sahuayo consisted of four villages; Sahuayo, San Pedro Caro, Santa Maria Asuncion de Xuquimatlan and San Miguel Guarachita, with Sahuayo being the main village. During the War for Independance (1810-1821) the Sahuayenses sent a large contingent of men who fought to defend the island and port of Mezcala (now Lazaro Cardenas) from Spanish warships. The Hacienda de Guaracho sided with the Spanish and was attacked several times by the insurgents.
On 10th December, 1831, Sahuayo was finally recognised as a legl entity. Throughout the reform age it was a refuge for conservative forces until 1861. At this time the owner of the Hacienda de Guaracha, Dona Anotonia Moreno, sold half the land to over 50 rich buyers. Shortly afterwards the Second French Empire began their invasion of Mexico led by Napolean III in an attempt to force the Mexicans to settle their debts to France, Spain and Britain who, until 1861, had been receiving interest
payments from Mexico. Sahuayo and the neighbouring towns faced raids from both sides.
On 13th April 1891 Sahuayo changed its name to Sahuayo de Porfirio Diaz after the then president of Mexico and the town was elevated to the status of villa.
By 1905 the process of lowering the levels of Lake Chapala had begun, creating more fertile land for farming. However in 1912 a levee along the lake ruptured causing a severe water shortage for the people of Sahuayo and the surrounding area. This internal problem prevented the local people from fully participating in the Mexican Revolution which came about when Francisco I. Madero led an uprising against the dictatorship of Porfirio Diaz. The Revolution ended with the creation of the Mexican Constituation in 1917.
Sahuayo was affected by the Cristero War of 1926 - 1929. The Cristero War was the most significant relapse to violence and conflict after 1917. It arose from the clergy and traditionalist groups protesting the anti-Catholic policies of the Constitution. The Constitution sought to secularise the country and limit the power of the church. The Constitution prohibited the chucrh from aquiring land, banned monastic orders and church-run schools and forbad any religious activity outside
of churches (now the property of the government).
In 1926 the parish church of Sahuayo was the second place attacked by Federal soldiers. After the end of the religious conflict and during Lazaro Cardenas governorship of Michoacan the lands of the Hacienda de Guaracho were shared between the farmers of Sahuayo.
On 28th November 1952, due to its economic development Sahuayo was granted city status and then in 1957 the city once again changed its name to Sahuayo de Jose Maria Morellos in honour of one of the revolutionary leaders in the War of Independance.
So much for the history...
Here's what I know about Sahuayo...
•Everyone is crazy - 'very, very crazy teacher!'
•People like to play their music very loudly (some cars are fitted with loud speakers on the roof - this is made bareable by the fact it's all quite nice music)
•There is a church in every direction
•Fireworks go off every couple of hours (they shoot them off the church roof)
•Parades happen every few days... no-one knows why usually. They block the streets, bring traffic to a standstill and all the locals stand around asking each other 'Do
you know what this is for?'
•The coffin shop opens every day by 9am, except Saturdays (yes that is coffin, not coffee)
•There are no pedastian crossings anywhere
•One way streets are where the cars drive one way and the motorbikes go where they like
•People ride motorbikes wearing construction hard hats.... men have a fondness for pink motorbikes
•When it rains people ride their motobikes and carry an umbrella (I haven't been able to work this one out yet - don't they need two hands to drive?)
•Huge off-the-road style-quadbikes are the transport of choice for girls (they can ride them in heels and mini skirts)
•All children know the words 'fat', 'ugly' and 'crazy' even if they speak no other English.
•'Crazy' is by far the most popular adjective for anything.
•There is a surplus of shoe shops, bridal shops and dentists.
•Wedding dresses and formal ballgowns come in white.... also bright pink, lime green and flourescent orange.
•I have seen Belle's ballgown; and there are replica Snow White outfits for sale in every dress shop (at least these ones are child sized)
•No-one is on
time for anything, especially school.
•The pavements are ridiculously high (and uneven)
•There appear to be no drains
•When it rains the roads flood into mini rivers (maybe this is the reason for the high pavements)
•So far.. I'm loving it!
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david
Adventure
its verry nice picture.thanks for your good subject