Copainalá

Copainala is a town with history, we are the Zoque culture that remains alive, that is present, that speaks, lives, and transmits the knowledge inherited from our ancestors, preserving our traditions as they taught them to us. We have the memory of an ancient people and we have been an important part in the formation and historical development of Mexico.

Among the attractions that distinguish our town, we have historical monuments such as the Temple of San Miguel Archangel built in the mid-sixteenth century by the Spanish Dominican friars and Zoques inhabitants of our town, the date of the beginning of construction of the nave and the main tower is established between 1549 and 1572, period in which the Dominican friars began their missionary work in the indigenous area, being our town one of those that still retain their original colonial churches. The details are of Renaissance style with baroque elements, the tower of the church represents a fight between angels and demons.

Annex to the described Temple is the Temple of San Vicente Ferrer, a Renaissance-style building with a marked Mudejar preference coming from Medieval Andalusia, a common characteristic of the constructions of Colonial Central America. In general, this building and the former convent (secular house) show old construction traditions from the beginning of the 7th century. Today, and thanks to the intervention of INAH, this building has been recently restored.

Our cuisine is prepared with plants and herbs from the region, creating culinary delicacies that delight our visitors, one of the best-known meals is called “Tzata” a traditional Zoque food that is made from beans and green banana (plantain), chicharrón ground in molcajete is added to give it more flavor. We also have the Pimbu, “ground corn with chipilín and dumpling”, this food is only made in times of corn cultivation. And we have a variety of tamales, which accompanies us throughout the year as well as in traditional festivals: chipilín, hierba Santa, bola and mole. Our traditional drinks are white pozol (made from corn cooked with lime), and cocoa pozol, which can be accompanied by salt, green mango, and chili. Atol agrio, a copainalteca drink made from corn that is ground and boiled, and Rompope, a drink made with milk, drink, and artificial color. Finally, the ritual drink of the Copainalteco Zoque Carnival; the cupsi, a drink of ritual character that is prepared with aguardiente and honey, has a deep and mystical meaning according to the traditionalist Zoque community.

Our traditional knowledge has been preserved by different characters, such as the rezador and master of native dance. Cirilo Meza Gómez was awarded the Chiapas prize in 1992, and the traditional music master Luis Hernández Aguilar was recognized as a Living Human Treasure in the year 2021, distinctions granted by the Government of the State of Chiapas, for being part of the intangible cultural heritage of Humanity.

Copainala is known as “the town of the 1,000 dances” because our traditions and legends are told through them, each one is a scenic representation, where the origin and evolution of our land are told. Our traditional dances originally had a ritual character of the pre-Hispanic customs of the ancestors. They merged with new elements of the Catholic region in the period of the conquest, resulting in a calendar of representation of these dances at least once a month throughout the year, on the feasts of the saints who reside in the chapels of the different neighborhoods of Copainalá. Mocteczu, San Miguel, la Encamisada, Los Pastores, San Jerónimo, el Gigante, San Lorenzo, Santa Susana, Bailarín el Caballito, and San Isidro, are some of them. Such a syncretism was achieved between the Catholic religion and the tradition of the ancient Zoques, that a religious festivity cannot be conceived without the participation of the traditionalist community with their dances, traditional rituals, and sacred ornaments such as the zome, which is built on a rod of sweet cane wrapped in maguey leaves and pepper and decorated with flowers of the region, for the Zoques of Copainalá it means the entrance to a sacred place, it is placed at the entrance of the houses, or churches where the party is held or on the sacred altars.

The popularity of the municipality is undoubtedly due to the emotional traditions of the celebrations, which you cannot miss, for example, the Moctezu, San Miguel, the Encamisada, the Shepherds, San Jerónimo, the Giant, San Lorenzo, Santa Susana, the Caballito, the Weya Weya and San Isidro. During Holy Week there is a great tour through the shores of the town where you can observe the staging of the Stations of the Cross that will make you feel a deep spiritual experience.

Another important tradition is the celebration of the Day of the Dead, where the villagers gather at the municipal cemetery, who arrive at midnight on November 1st to light candles, bringing flowers and offerings, such as tamales, oranges, atole agrio, rompope, bread rolls, cacate, and seasonal fruits to their deceased; people watch the candles all night at midnight and leave the next day

The religious manifestations of the municipality invite to live and enjoy the Catholic temples of San Miguel, the patron saint of the town and its festivity to be celebrated in September; San Vicente Ferrer, the largest fair, where international groups and artists attend and is celebrated in May from 5 to 10; the Immaculate Conception which is celebrated in December; the church of San Fabián which is celebrated in January; the church of San Juan which is celebrated in December; the church of Santa Cecilia, which is celebrated in November; the church of La Santísima Trinidad, which is the oldest church in the town and is celebrated on the first day of the month of November; the church of La Santísima Trinidad, which is celebrated on the first day of the month of November; the church of San Juan which is celebrated in December; the church of Santa Cecilia, which is celebrated in November; the church of Santísima Trinidad, which is the oldest church in town and is celebrated on the first Sunday after Pentecost; the church of Santa Anna which is celebrated in July from 24 to 26; the church of San Francisco which is celebrated in October, and finally the recently built church of San Marcos, which is celebrated on April 25.