Amecameca de Juárez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Amecameca de Juárez
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Municipal Seat
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 Amecameca de Juárez
Location in Mexico
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| Country |  Mexico |
| State | Mexico (state) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central Standard Time) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (Central Daylight Time) |
Amecameca de Juárez is a town in Mexico. It is the main town of the Amecameca area in Mexico State.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The name Amecameca comes from the Nahuatl language. It means "place where papers signal" or "paper used in ceremonies." This paper is called amatl. It is a special bark paper used to decorate images of gods. People still make it today as a craft.
The name "de Juárez" was added in 1887. This was done by the government of Mexico State. It honors Benito Juárez, a very important former president of Mexico.
Fun Things to Do in Amecameca
Amecameca is a popular place for weekend trips. People from Mexico City, Puebla, and Morelos states visit. They come to enjoy the beautiful scenery. They also love to eat traditional foods. These include barbacoa (slow-cooked meat) and rabbit. You can find these foods in the local tianguis (outdoor market) or the main market. It is also a special place for religious visits. Many people go to the sanctuary of the Señor del Sacromonte.
The Old Archway
The main way to enter the historic town center is through an old arch. It was built in 1731. This arch is next to the town hall. It has a special picture of Christ. Travelers used to pray here. The arch is made of sandstone. It has a fancy Baroque style with cool patterns. A statue used to sit on top. A bus hit the arch in the 1970s. The statue fell and was never replaced.
The Main Plaza
The main plaza has a kiosk from the 1950s. It has two small shops inside that sell local candies. The plaza also has statues of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla and Benito Juárez. There is even a ring from an old Mesoamerican ball court from the 1200s. The plaza's ground was changed in 1999. In 2003, a special monument for Benito Juárez was added.
Even though it's a park, the plaza often has market stalls. This happens on market days and during festivals. The green areas of the plaza have cool iron sculptures of lions. These lions are shown with nopal plants and even a boa constrictor! They were given by the old owners of a nearby farm. That's why the plaza is also called the Lion Garden.
The Parish of the Asunción
Right by the plaza is the Parish of the Asunción. It was first a Dominican monastery. It was built in 1553. The main entrance is made of pink stone. It is still in great shape. The building style is very simple. On the front, there is a sculpture of the Virgin Mary. There are also angel faces at her feet.
Inside, the main altar is Neoclassical. One side altar is Baroque. It has Bible pictures surrounded by twisted columns. The room where priests get ready has two altars. One is Baroque, and the other is for the Señor del Sacromonte. A famous painting here is The Angel of the Annunciation. It was painted by Echave Orio. The building's two-story cloister is one of the oldest in the Americas. It has arches resting on eight-sided columns.
There are two other important chapels in town. These are the Chapel of San Juan and the Chapel of the Virgen del Rosario. They were built for common people using adobe and wood. They have helped travelers find their way for a long time.
Local Food and Crafts
Near the main plaza is the municipal market. This is a great place to try local foods. You can find popular Mexican dishes like carnitas and barbacoa. But the most special local dish is rabbit. Rabbit is cooked in many ways here. It can be made as mixote, in moles, or steamed in corn husks.
Atole (a warm drink) is also popular. Here, it's sometimes flavored with chili pepper and epazote (a herb). The market also sells dishes and products made from walnuts. These include chiles en nogada (peppers in walnut sauce) and chicken in walnut sauce. You can also find a walnut liquor.
In front of this market is a crafts market. It sells clay items and pictures of the volcanoes. You can also buy local breads and turnovers filled with apple or pineapple. The walnut liquor is sold all year. But it's extra special during the annual Walnut Festival in August.
Besides the permanent market, there's a tianguis (outdoor market) every Sunday. Traders and craftspeople come from far away to sell their goods. The town also has a pulqueria. This is a place that serves pulque. Pulque is a traditional drink. It can be plain or flavored. Common flavors are strawberry, mango, guava, and nut. The owner also has secret flavors like tomato, celery, and carrot!
Learning and Helping Others
The state university, UAEM (Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Mexico), has a campus here.
A big charity in Amecameca is the Cottolengo Mexicano. It is part of the Obra Don Orione religious group. This group started in Italy in 1905. It now helps people in over thirty countries. They offer charity, education, and religious teaching. The group came to Amecameca in the mid-1990s. The Cottolengo helps homeless children and children with disabilities.
Images for kids
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Amecameca with the Iztaccíhuatl volcano in the background.
See also
In Spanish: Amecameca de Juárez para niños
