View source for Chamula

{{for|the wasp genus member of the Subfamily [[Cryptinae]]|Chamula (wasp)}}
<!-- do not delete redlink to avoid wrong article name -->
{{Infobox settlement
<!--See the Table at Infobox Settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage-->
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
| name                            = Chamula
| settlement_type                 = [[Municipalities of Mexico|Municipality]]
| other_name                      =
| native_name                     = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
| nickname                        =
| motto                           =
| pushpin_map                     = Mexico <!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map -->
| pushpin_label_position          = above
| pushpin_mapsize                 = 300
| pushpin_map_caption             = Location in Mexico
| image_skyline                   = SanJuanChamula church 2006 08.JPG
| image_alt                       = Templo de San Juan Chamula
| image_caption                   = ''Templo de San Juan Chamula''
<!-- Location ------------------>
| subdivision_type                = Country
| subdivision_name                = {{flag|Mexico}}
| subdivision_type1               = [[Administrative divisions of Mexico|State]]
| subdivision_name1               = [[Chiapas]]
| subdivision_type2               =
| subdivision_name2               =
| subdivision_type3               =
| subdivision_name3               =
| subdivision_type4               =
| subdivision_name4               =
<!-- Politics ----------------->
| government_footnotes            =
| government_type                 =
| leader_title                    =
| leader_name                     =
| leader_title1                   = <!-- for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager -->
| leader_name1                    =
| leader_title2                   =
| leader_name2                    =
| leader_title3                   =
| leader_name3                    =
| leader_title4                   =
| leader_name4                    =
| established_title               = <!-- Settled -->
| established_date                =
| established_title2              = <!-- Incorporated (town) -->
| established_date2               =
| established_title3              = <!-- Incorporated (city) -->
| established_date3               =
<!-- Area    --------------------->
| area_magnitude                  =
| unit_pref                       = Imperial <!--Enter: Imperial, if Imperial (metric) is desired-->
| area_footnotes                  =
| area_total_km2                  = <!-- ALL fields dealing with a measurements are subject to automatic unit conversion-->
| area_land_km2                   = <!--See table @ Template:Infobox Settlement for details on automatic unit conversion-->
| area_water_km2                  =
| area_total_sq_mi                =
| area_land_sq_mi                 =
| area_water_sq_mi                =
| area_water_percent              =
| area_urban_km2                  =
| area_urban_sq_mi                =
| area_metro_km2                  =
| area_metro_sq_mi                =
| area_blank1_title               =
| area_blank1_km2                 =
| area_blank1_sq_mi               =
<!-- Population   ----------------------->
| population_as_of                = 2010
| population_footnotes            =
| population_note                 =
| population_total                = 76,941
| population_density_km2          =
| population_density_sq_mi        =
| population_metro                =
| population_density_metro_km2    =
| population_density_metro_sq_mi  =
| population_urban                =
| population_density_urban_km2    =
| population_density_urban_sq_mi  =
| population_blank1_title         = Ethnicities
| population_blank1               =
| population_blank2_title         = Religions
| population_blank2               =
| population_density_blank1_km2   =
| population_density_blank1_sq_mi =
<!-- General information  --------------->
| timezone                        =
| utc_offset                      =
| timezone_DST                    =
| utc_offset_DST                  =
| coordinates                     = {{coord|16|47|N|92|41|W|region:MX_type:city_source:GNS-enwiki|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes             = <!--for references: use <ref> </ref> tags-->
| elevation_m                     =
| elevation_ft                    =
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
| postal_code_type                = <!-- enter ZIP code, Postcode, Post code, Postal code... -->
| postal_code                     =
| area_code                       =
| blank_name                      =
| blank_info                      =
| blank1_name                     =
| blank1_info                     =
| website                         =
| footnotes                       =
| official_name                   =
| image_map                       = File:Chamula en Chiapas.svg
}}
'''San Juan Chamula''' is a [[Municipalities of Chiapas|municipality]] and township in the [[Mexico|Mexican]] [[List of states of Mexico|state]] of [[Chiapas]]. It is situated some {{convert|2.9|km|mi|abbr=on}} from [[San Cristóbal de las Casas]]. As of 2010, the municipality had a total population of 76,941.<ref name=SEDESOL>{{cite web|title=Chamula|url=http://www.microrregiones.gob.mx/catloc/LocdeMun.aspx?tipo=clave&campo=loc&ent=07&mun=023|work=Catálogo de Localidades|publisher=[[Secretaría de Desarrollo Social]] (SEDESOL)|access-date=23 April 2014|archive-date=24 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024190657/http://www.microrregiones.gob.mx/catloc/LocdeMun.aspx?tipo=clave&campo=loc&ent=07&mun=023|url-status=dead}}</ref> Virtually the entire population of the municipality is indigenous and speaks an indigenous language. In 2010, the census reported that 99.5% of the population age 3 years or older speaks an indigenous language.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/51752151/Principales-resultados-del-Censo-2010-Chiapas?q=hablantes+lengua+indigena+chiapas+2010&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=643|title=Principales-resultados-del-Censo-2010-Chiapas|website=Scribd|access-date=29 June 2018}}</ref>  The [[Tzotzil people]] and language dominate the municipality.<ref>{{cite web|title=San Juan Chamula, Chiapas|url=http://beta.visitmexico.com/fr/san-juan-chamula-chiapas|publisher=Tourism Board of Mexico|access-date=10 July 2017|language=fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917200849/http://beta.visitmexico.com/fr/san-juan-chamula-chiapas|archive-date=17 September 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Geography==
===Location===
Chamula is located in the [[Chiapas highlands]], at an altitude of {{convert|2,200|m|ft|abbr=off|sp=us}}. It is inhabited by the [[indigenous peoples of Mexico|indigenous]] [[Tzotzil people|Tzotzil Maya people]], whose [[Tzotzil language]] is one of the [[Mayan languages]].
The town enjoys unique [[autonomy|autonomous]] status within [[Mexico]]. No outside police or military are allowed in the village. Chamulas have their own police force.
==Demographics==
As of 2010, the town of Chamula had a population of 3,329.<ref name=SEDESOL/> Other than the town of Chamula, the municipality had 149 localities, the largest of which (with 2010 populations in parentheses) were: Cruztón (1,756), Yaltem (1,664), Chicumtantic (1,599), Nichnamtic (1,496), Muquén (1,480), Majomut (1,450), Saclamantón (1,348), Catishtic (1,319), Romerillo (1,310), Cuchulumtic (1,275), Narváez (1,207), Bautista Chico (1,173), Las Ollas (1,165), Macvilho (1,142), Tentic (1,121), Arvenza Uno (1,107), Pugchén Mumuntic (1,046), and Tzontehuitz (1,004), classified as rural.<ref name=SEDESOL/>
==Sights==
[[File:Zapatista Dolls for Sale - Chamula - Chiapas - Mexico - 02 (15638772616).jpg|thumb|left|Zapatista dolls]]
The church of San Juan, in the municipal ''cabecera'' (seat of government), is filled with colorful candles, and smoke from burning [[copal|copal resin incense]], commonly used throughout southern Mexico. Along the walls of the church are Catholic saints resting on tables posted in the church, but they represent Mayan gods.<ref name="utexas"/> Candles are lit and the people sit on the floor and pray below the saints.<ref name="utexas"/> The local form of Catholicism is a blend of pre-conquest Maya customs, Spanish Catholic traditions, and subsequent innovations.<ref name="utexas">{{cite web|title=Chamula: A small indigenous village in Chiapas|url=http://lanic.utexas.edu/project/etext/llilas/outreach/mexico11/curry/curry_powerpoint.pdf|publisher=University of Texas|access-date=10 July 2017}}</ref>
There are no pews in the church, and the floor area is completely covered in a carpet of green pine boughs.<ref name="utexas"/> ''[[Curandero]]s'' (medicine men) diagnose medical, psychological or ‘evil-eye’ afflictions and prescribe remedies such as candles of specific colors and sizes, specific flower petals or feathers, or - in a dire situation - a live chicken. The specified remedies are brought to a healing ceremony. Chamula families kneel on the floor of the church with sacrificial items, stick candles to the floor with melted wax, drink ceremonial cups of ''Posh'', artisanal sugar-cane-based liquor, and chant prayers in an archaic dialect of Tzotzil.
Photography within the church is strictly prohibited as is photographing the Christmas procession to the church. Visitors can be thrown out of town for violating this rule.
The main agricultural products are [[maize|corn]], [[bean]]s, and [[Cucurbita pepo|squashes]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Giannini |first=Eleonora |date=2019-05-13 |title=The Milpa System in Chiapas: A Bastion of Biodiversity |url=https://www.slowfood.com/the-milpa-system-in-chiapas-a-bastion-of-biodiversity/ |access-date=2023-05-30 |website=Slow Food International |language=en-US}}</ref>
Women often make traditional clothing, blankets, and souvenirs that include [[Zapatista Army of National Liberation|Zapatista]]-related items, such as pens with a clay figure on top in the figure of [[Subcomandante Marcos]] or [[Comandante Tacho]].
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{commons category|Chamula Municipality}}
*[https://1997-2001.state.gov/www/global/human_rights/irf/irf_rpt/1999/irf_mexico99.html Report of religious conflicts between Catholics and Evangelicals in Chamula in the late nineties]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070928170859/http://web.ionsys.com/~remedy/San%20Juan%20Chamula.htm The Elliott's 'Remedy' Website]
*{{in lang|es}} [http://www.nathangibbs.com/2007/10/29/san-juan-chamula/ Video from the town square ] during a festival, including a conversation with two young Chamulas ''(17 September 2007)''.
{{Chiapas}}
[[Category:Municipalities of Chiapas]]