Ocotepec, Cuernavaca facts for kids
Ocotepec is a small town in Mexico. It is located just north of the city of Cuernavaca, in the state of Morelos. The name Ocotepec means "on the hill of the ocotes." Ocotes are a type of pine tree, also known as Montezuma pines.
The town is divided into four main areas called neighborhoods. Each neighborhood has its own important church. This way of organizing the town comes from a long time ago, during the colonial period. The four neighborhoods are Candelaria, Dolores, Ramos, and Santa Cruz. Each one celebrates its own special saint's day. Because of this old way of organizing, Ocotepec has kept many ancient traditions alive. Some of these traditions are even older than the Spanish arrival in Mexico.
Ocotepec is known as one of the most traditional communities in the Cuernavaca area. If you visit the main road, you will see many shops. These shops sell beautiful handmade items. You can find things made from clay, stone, and wood. They also sell rustic furniture. There are also restaurants and food stalls. They specialize in tasty local dishes like barbacoa (slow-cooked meat) and cecina (thinly sliced dried meat).
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History of Ocotepec
Ocotepec was founded in the 1400s. At that time, it was part of the powerful Aztec Empire. In 1529, the town became part of the lands given to Hernán Cortés. He was a Spanish explorer.
The main church in town, the Church of the Divino Salvador, was started in 1536. It took many years to build and was finished in 1592. Today, Ocotepec is one of 48 smaller areas within the city of Cuernavaca.
Ocotepec's Neighborhoods
Ocotepec has four main neighborhoods, called barrios. Each neighborhood has its own special festival day.
- Candelaria (also known as Tlaneui) was founded by the Tlahuicas people. They honor the Virgin of Candelaria on February 2.
- Dolores (also known as Culhuakan) was founded by the Acolhuas people. They honor Our Lady of Sorrows on September 15.
- Ramos (also known as Tlakopan) was founded by the Tecpanecas people.
- Santa Cruz (also known as Xalxokotepeazola) was founded later, in 1970.
Church of the Divino Salvador
The most important church in Ocotepec is the Church of the Divino Salvador, which means "Divine Savior." Building this church began in 1532 and was completed in 1592.
The church has a single long room called a nave. Its roof is shaped like a barrel vault. Strong buttresses on the sides help support the walls. The church also has battlements, which are like small walls with openings, and a bell tower on its south side. The front of the church, called the facade, is in the Baroque style. It is decorated with carvings made from lime mortar.
Next to the church, you can see arches that were meant for a monastery. However, this part was never finished. The church complex faces a large open area called an atrium. A wall with battlements surrounds this atrium. A special stone on the wall shows the date the church was made sacred.
A plaque on the church wall tells an interesting story. During the Mexican Revolution in 1914, the church bells were melted down. They were used to make ammunition for the Zapatistas, who were fighting in the revolution. The church's bell tower was badly damaged in the September 19, 2017 Puebla earthquake.
Ocotepec Town Cemetery
Another important cultural place in Ocotepec is the town's cemetery. It shows many traditional ways of building tombs in Mexico. Most of the tombs look like small churches, cathedrals, or houses. They are often painted in bright colors or covered with tiles. This cemetery is a very important place for preparing for one of the biggest days of the year: Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead.
Celebrating Day of the Dead
Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a very special event in Ocotepec. Many traditions are similar to those in other parts of Mexico. These include special church services, creating altars for those who have passed away, and visiting the cemetery. However, Ocotepec also has some unique ways of celebrating.
The remembrance of the dead actually starts early, on October 18. This is the feast day of Saint Luke. Much of the time between October 18 and October 31 is spent in prayer. This is called a novena, and it honors the deceased.
A special tradition here is the "ofrenda nueva," which means "new offering." These are altars made especially to honor people who have died in the past year. These altars are usually the most detailed and beautiful. They are decorated with the favorite foods and drinks of the person who died. You will also see sugar skulls, many colorful flowers like Mexican marigolds, and candles. If a child has passed away, toys and sweets are placed on their altar.
Many altars in Ocotepec also show the four elements: earth, water, fire, and air. Bread represents earth, water represents water, candles represent fire, and crepe paper represents air. There might also be four candles placed in the shape of a cross. These candles point to the four main directions. This is believed to bless the path for the deceased to return and visit the living on this special day. The main part of an "ofrenda nueva" altar is a figure of the person who recently died. This figure is made from fruit, bread, or vegetables. It is dressed in new clothes and shoes bought just for this occasion.
Houses that have a "new offering" can be easily spotted. A path of marigold petals leads from the altar inside the house to the sidewalk outside. This path helps the recently deceased find their way home. It also invites living visitors to come inside and see the beautiful "nueva ofrenda" altar. Visitors are welcomed with bread, "ponche" (a hot spiced fruit drink), coffee, and tamales. In return, visitors often light candles or leave flowers on the altar.
Another special tradition in Ocotepec is a procession. This happens on the nights of October 31 and November 1. The entire village walks into the cemetery together on both nights. They carry offerings and food to eat while sitting beside the tombs.
Church bells ring on the night of October 31. This announces the arrival of the Day of Deceased Children, which is November 1. On the morning of November 1, families visit the graveyard. They decorate it with many colorful flowers. A special church service is held to honor the children who have passed away. Later that night, the church bells ring again. This announces the main Day of the Dead, November 2. On this day, more visits are made to the cemetery. Another church service is held, this time for adults who have passed away.
Education in Ocotepec
Ocotepec has many schools for children and young adults. Here are some of them:
- Escuela Primaria Yankuik Tlanesi (a public school for Indigenous preschool children)
- Colegio Torre Giner (a private day care and preschool)
- Instituto Educativo Aristos (a private preschool in Colonia Ampliación Tepepan)
- Jose Ma. Morelos (a public elementary school)
- Raymundo R. Treviño Alvarado (a public elementary school)
- Colegio Cencalli (a private school for grades K-6, in Col Ampliacion Maravillas)
- Rhema (a private elementary school)
- Universidad Nahuatl De Ocotepec (a cultural center called Calmecac for studying the Nahuatl language)
- Grupo Educativo Tzitzitlini (a day care center)
- Pablo Torres Burgos (a public middle school)
- Colegio Paloma (a private preschool and elementary school)
- Liceo Agazzi Bombelli (a private preschool, elementary, and middle school)
- Lycée Franco-Mexicain (also known as Liceo Franco Mexicano or Escuela Molière/École Molière)
See also
In Spanish: Ocotepec (Morelos) para niños
