Asunción Cuyotepeji facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Asunción Cuyotepeji
Municipality and town
Asunción Cuyotepeji Location in Mexico
Country	Mexico
State	Oaxaca
Area
• Total	547.33 km2 (211.33 sq mi)
Population  (2005)
• Total	14,438
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central Standard Time)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (Central Daylight Time)

Asunción Cuyotepeji is a town and municipality in Oaxaca, a state in southwestern Mexico. The municipality covers an area of about 547.33 square kilometers. In 2005, the total population was 14,438 people.

This area is part of the Huajuapan District in the northern Mixteca Region. It is located in the northwest of Oaxaca. This region is known as "La Mixteca," where ancient Nahua civilizations once lived. The town is 1760 meters (about 5,774 feet) above sea level. It is surrounded by other smaller municipalities. To the north are Santiago Miltepec and San Juan Bautista Suchitepec. To the south is Santa Maria Camotlan. To the east are Santa Catarina Zapoquila and Santiago Thuitlan Plumas. Finally, to the west are Ciudad de Huajuapan de Leon and Santiago Miltepec.

History of Asunción Cuyotepeji

There isn't much clear information about where the first people in this area came from. According to old records, a special permission was given in 1578. This permission allowed Martin Enriquez Visorrey to start a Spanish settlement here.

Later, in 1704, this land was given to a local indigenous leader. By 1785, the lands were owned by Gregorio Villagomez. Finally, a decision by the Spanish ruler (called a viceroy) gave the lands to the Mariano Francisco family. They settled here and founded the modern town we know today.

During the time when Spain ruled Mexico, and even after Mexico became independent, local leaders had power over everyone in the town. After many years of being treated unfairly, the townspeople fought for their rights. They reached an agreement that allowed them to own and use the land for themselves. They only had to pay a very small amount of money. Because of this, most of the townspeople gained ownership of the land. This ended the disagreements between the leaders and the people.

Economy of Asunción Cuyotepeji

Most people in Asunción Cuyotepeji work in farming. About 60 percent of the population grows crops. The main crops they grow are beans, chili peppers, and amaranth.

Another 30 percent of the people work with farm animals. They raise pigs, cattle, and goats. The remaining 10 percent of the population works in local shops and businesses.

Culture and Fun Things to See

Asunción Cuyotepeji in Oaxaca doesn't have huge historical buildings. However, it does have a small archaeological site. About one kilometer east of the town, there's an uninhabited area called Cerro Del Mosquito. Many ancient items have been found here. These include old pottery, carved stones, and jade.

The town has a big festival every year from August 14 to August 16. It is called the Fiesta Patronal. The townspeople organize these events to honor their religious figure, "Santa Maria Asuncion." These festivals usually include many fun activities. You can see sports, traditional folk dances, and fireworks.

Each neighborhood in the town has its own religious figure. When it's time to prepare for a festival, a different person is chosen each year to organize it.

In Mexico, November 2 is a special day called "Dia de los Muertos," or Day of the Dead. On this day, families honor their relatives who have passed away. In Asunción Cuyotepeji, families visit their relatives' graves. Then, they prepare an ofrenda (an offering). They offer traditional foods to their loved ones. These foods might include mole, tamales, mezcal, chocolate, and bread. They choose foods that their ancestors enjoyed when they were alive.

See also

In Spanish: Asunción Cuyotepeji para niños