Xicotepec facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Xicotepec
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Municipality and town
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| Xicotepec de Juárez | ||
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Location of the municipality in Puebla
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| Country |  Mexico |
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| State | Puebla | |
| Elevation | 1,180 m (3,870 ft) | |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central Standard Time) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (Central Daylight Time) | |
| Area code(s) | 764 | |
Xicotepec is a special town and municipality in the state of Puebla, Mexico. Its name comes from the Nahuatl language. It means "Hill of Jicotes" or "Hill of Bumblebees." A jicote is a type of bee.
This area is in central-eastern Mexico, within the Sierra Norte de Puebla mountains. The main city, Xicotepec de Juárez, is very important. In 2012, Mexico's Secretary of Tourism named it one of the country's 121 "Pueblos Mágicos" (Magical Towns).
Contents
History of Xicotepec
The history of Xicotepec is very old and interesting. Many different groups of people have lived here over time.
Early Settlers: Olmecs and Huastecs
It is believed that the first people to explore this area were the Olmecs. They found a perfect spot to build their special ceremonial center. The heavy rains, unique land, two rivers, and thick forests made it an ideal place to live.
Later, a brave Huastec warrior named Cuextécatl fought the Olmecs. He pushed them back to the coast, and the Huastecs took over the area. This place became very important as a religious center. People from far away, like Teotihuacan and the Gulf of Mexico coast, came here for religious reasons. This also helped many different groups of people settle in the area.
Other Ancient Groups
Some stories say that Otomi groups were the first to live here, around 300 BCE. Then, in the 5th century, Totonac settlers from El Tajín moved into these lands.
Conquered by Empires
Around the year 1120, the Toltec people, led by their ruler Huemac, conquered the region. This made Xicotepec a manor, which is like a lord's estate. Just five months later, Chichimec tribes took control. They stayed for over forty years until Metlaltoyuca took it back in 1162.
About 1325, the Acolhua tribe, led by Tlachotla, invaded the area. They made it part of their own manor.
In 1432, the territory became a tribute to Texcoco. This means they had to pay taxes or goods to Texcoco. Nezahualcóyotl, a famous ruler, then put Quetzalpatzin in charge of the Xicotepec manor.
What Does the Coat of Arms Mean?
The coat of arms of Xicotepec is a special drawing called a glyph. It comes from the Nahuatl language. This glyph shows two main things. The green shape looks like a hill. On top of the hill, there is a picture of a jicote, which is a type of bumblebee.
This drawing is a visual way to show the meaning of the city's name. It clearly tells us that Xicotepec means "the hill of the jicotes" or "the hill of the bumblebees."
Geography and Natural Beauty
Xicotepec is located in a beautiful natural area.
Towns and Waterfalls
Villa Ávila Camacho, also known as La Ceiba, is a town in the northeast part of the municipality. It sits right next to the Río San Marcos river. Another amazing place nearby is the Tlaxcalantongo Falls. These waterfalls are close to a town with the same name.
