The flyers of papantla

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The Papantla flyers have their roots in pre-Hispanic times.

As the story goes, during a time of drought in Totonacapan a group of wise men asked young virgins to find the tallest tree to use in a ritual that included dance and music. The ceremony was performed at the top of the trunk, with the belief that prayers full of faith would reach the gods who protected them from above. The ritual was carried out with the purpose of asking the gods to bring back the rains and fertility of the land. Since then, the ceremony has been celebrated annually as thanks to the gods.

The ceremony begins with the selection and felling of a tall tree, between 18 and 40 meters, known as a "flying stick", where before cutting it, a ceremony is performed in which the god of the mountain is asked for forgiveness, showing respect for nature. The tree, stripped of its branches and leaves, is transported to the center of the community for installation, where a small wooden base, a cross, a pivot and a ladder attached to the pole are fitted. At the ends of the cross, ropes are placed that hold the flying dancers, symbolizing the cardinal points.

At the top of the structure is the caporal, a character who plays a drum and a flute, and coordinates the ritual. Each signal that the caporal makes is a type of acrobatics, in one of them each flying dancer jumps into the void, held by the waist, face down and supporting himself with his legs and rotates 13 times each of them simulating descending through the 13 skies of the sun god, which multiplied by the four flyers gives the result of 52, since this number is the symbol of the 52-year cycle of the indigenous calendar or Xiuhmolpilli. It ends when the participants begin to open the circle until they touch the ground.

Their clothing

The Papantla flyers wear a conical cap with a quetzal-shaped plume, a white shirt adorned with mirrors representing the rays of the sun, colored ribbons symbolizing the rainbow, flowers woven on the chest and belt as a symbol of fertility, and red pants representing the blood of the deceased dancers.

Where can they be seen?

It is possible to appreciate and live a ritual declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in Puerto Vallarta, on the Malecon, in Papantla, Veracruz, in the communities of Puebla and Hidalgo and the Xcaret park in Cancún and Quintana Roo

The importance of the Papantla flyers lies in preserving ancestral traditions and cultural identity

Tris ritual conects the present whit the past, maintaining the beliefs and customs of the Totonac people alive. It is no only a way to honor their gods and ask for de fertility of the land, but it also teaches respect for nature and community values. Moreover it is a symbol of resistance and continuity in indigenous culture in Mexico, recognized worldwide as Intangible Cultutal Heritage by UNESCO

By performing this ceremony, the Totonac community keeps its history, ispiritualy, and cultural roots vibrant,passing them on the new generations.