TOWN OF FLOWERS AND TEXTILES OF CHIAPAS
A city of 30,000 people, Zinacantán is located in a valley surrounded by a mosaic of colors made of thousands of cultivated flowers and pine hillsides.
This vibrant city in the highlands of Chiapas, Mexico, has been an important center of exchange and commerce since pre-colonial times. Zinacantecos grow and export flowers to Mexico City and other places.
Almost the entire population of Zinacantán is Maya Tzotzil. Zinacantán is a Nahuatl word that means "the land of bats". Its inhabitants are called "Sots'leb" in their own language, which also means "people of bats".
The Day of the Holy Cross, the Day of the Dead and the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe are the most important celebrations in Zinacantán, reflecting beliefs that include Mayan and Catholic traditions. The community is committed to the education of their children and the protection of the environment through reforestation efforts. The people of Zinacantán are proud of their Mayan heritage, which they express through their traditional dress, mother tongue and attention to their traditions.
