Santiago Tuxtla

Most of the municipality is hot and humid with most rain falling in the summer. About 30% is relatively drier. The average annual temperature is between 24 and 26C and the average annual precipitation varies from 1,400 to 3,600mm.{{cite web |title=Santiago Tuxtla |work=Sistema de Información Municipal Cuadernillos Municipales 2014 |publisher=Secretaria de Finanzas y Planeacion del Estado de Veracruz |url=http://www.veracruz.gob.mx/finanzas/files/2013/04/Santiago-Tuxtla.pdf |access-date=May 10, 2014 |archive-date=May 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512225105/http://www.veracruz.gob.mx/finanzas/files/2013/04/Santiago-Tuxtla.pdf |url-status=dead }}

Most of the municipality is hot and humid with most rain falling in the summer. About 30% is relatively drier. The average annual temperature is between 24 and 26C and the average annual precipitation varies from 1,400 to 3,600mm.{{cite web |title=Santiago Tuxtla |work=Sistema de Información Municipal Cuadernillos Municipales 2014 |publisher=Secretaria de Finanzas y Planeacion del Estado de Veracruz |url=http://www.veracruz.gob.mx/finanzas/files/2013/04/Santiago-Tuxtla.pdf |access-date=May 10, 2014 |archive-date=May 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512225105/http://www.veracruz.gob.mx/finanzas/files/2013/04/Santiago-Tuxtla.pdf |url-status=dead }}

===Flora and fauna===

===Flora and fauna===

Most of the territory is converted into farmland (330.9km2) or pasture (277.5km2) with 1.7km2 urbanized and 7.3km2 is covered in secondary vegetation. Only .7km2 still contains the native high perennial rainforest. Wildlife mostly consists of small animals such as squirrels, [[raccoon]]s and [[opossum]]s.

Most of the territory is converted into farmland ({{cvt|330.9|km2}}) or pasture ({{cvt|277.5|km2}}) with {{cvt|1.7|km2}} urbanized and {{cvt|7.3|km2}} is covered in secondary vegetation. Only {{cvt|0.7|km2}} still contains the native high perennial rainforest. Wildlife mostly consists of small animals such as squirrels, [[raccoon]]s and [[opossum]]s.

{{clear}}

{{clear}}

The municipality home to a number of unique traditions and celebrations. One aspect is that traditional music includes that of [[Huasteca]] influence such as [[Son (music)|sons]] and [[huapango]]s, played on jaranas and violins.

The municipality home to a number of unique traditions and celebrations. One aspect is that traditional music includes that of [[Huasteca]] influence such as [[Son (music)|sons]] and [[huapango]]s, played on jaranas and violins.

The patron saint, [[Saint James the Moor-slayer]], is celebrated at the end of July with both religious and secular events. The concurrent Santiago Tuxtla Fair runs from 22 to 30 July, with the saint's day being the 25th. This is preceded for several Sundays beforehand with traditional dances such as “Negros” and “Cristianos.” The fair includes more traditional dance, such as “Toros de Petate” and “Líceres,” which have pre Hispanic origins, horse races, exhibitions, vendors’ booths and concerts. It also includes the crowning of a festival queen on the 22nd, a major procession in honor of the saint with representatives of the city's nine neighborhoods, and the State [[Fandango]] Competition. The events attracts thousands of visitors as well as Veracruz state officials.{{cite press release |title= Música, arte y tradición en las fiestas titulares de Santiago Tuxtla |publisher = Coordinación General de Comunicación Social Estado de Veracruz |date=July 11, 2013 |url= http://www.comsocialver.gob.mx/2013/07/11/63008/|access-date=May 10, 2014 }}

The patron saint, [[Saint James the Moor-slayer]], is celebrated at the end of July with both religious and secular events. The concurrent Santiago Tuxtla Fair runs from 22 to 30 July, with the saint's day being the 25th. This is preceded for several Sundays beforehand with traditional dances such as "Negros" and "Cristianos." The fair includes more traditional dance, such as "Toros de Petate" and "Líceres," which have pre Hispanic origins, horse races, exhibitions, vendors' booths and concerts. It also includes the crowning of a festival queen on the 22nd, a major procession in honor of the saint with representatives of the city's nine neighborhoods, and the State [[Fandango]] Competition. The events attracts thousands of visitors as well as Veracruz state officials.{{cite press release |title= Música, arte y tradición en las fiestas titulares de Santiago Tuxtla |publisher = Coordinación General de Comunicación Social Estado de Veracruz |date=July 11, 2013 |url= http://www.comsocialver.gob.mx/2013/07/11/63008/|access-date=May 10, 2014 }}

The Christmas season is characterized here with a unique tradition called the “Acarreo de Niño Dios” (Carrying of the [[Niño Dios of Mexico|Child Jesus]]). This is a series of processions, with participants carrying images of the infant Jesus. The first occurs on 24 December, which the figures are brought to Christmas Even midnight mass accompanied by people dressed as shepherds and traditional music. The figures on this occasion are brought nude to represent the recent birth. This is the most popular procession, drawing crowds of spectators. The images are carried again on December 31, this time dressed and brought to nativity scenes to be seated. The last “carrying” is on February 2, although this has almost disappeared due to many families packing nativity scenes on January 6. For all three, carryings, each image as a female sponsor called a “madrina” (godmother) who provides food and drink such as tamales and [[rompope]] and new clothing for the Jesus image.{{cite journal |author= Jessica Gottfried Hesketh |title=La reinventación de una tradición en Santiago Tuxtla, Veracruz |journal = Revista Digital Universitaria |publisher= Cenidim |date=February 10, 2006 |volume=7 |issue=2 |issn=1607-6079|url= http://www.revista.unam.mx/vol.7/num2/art13/feb_art13.pdf |access-date=May 10, 2014 }}

The Christmas season is characterized here with a unique tradition called the "Acarreo de Niño Dios" (Carrying of the [[Niño Dios of Mexico|Child Jesus]]). This is a series of processions, with participants carrying images of the infant Jesus. The first occurs on 24 December, which the figures are brought to Christmas Even midnight mass accompanied by people dressed as shepherds and traditional music. The figures on this occasion are brought nude to represent the recent birth. This is the most popular procession, drawing crowds of spectators. The images are carried again on December 31, this time dressed and brought to nativity scenes to be seated. The last "carrying" is on February 2, although this has almost disappeared due to many families packing nativity scenes on January 6. For all three, carryings, each image as a female sponsor called a "madrina" (godmother) who provides food and drink such as tamales and [[rompope]] and new clothing for the Jesus image.{{cite journal |author= Jessica Gottfried Hesketh |title=La reinventación de una tradición en Santiago Tuxtla, Veracruz |journal = Revista Digital Universitaria |publisher= Cenidim |date=February 10, 2006 |volume=7 |issue=2 |issn=1607-6079|url= http://www.revista.unam.mx/vol.7/num2/art13/feb_art13.pdf |access-date=May 10, 2014 }}

One last tradition is "The Quema del Viejo" (Burning of the Old (Man)) occurs at midnight on December 31 after that evening's Acarreo.

One last tradition is "The Quema del Viejo" (Burning of the Old (Man)) occurs at midnight on December 31 after that evening's Acarreo.

==History==

==History==

[[File:MuseoRegionalTuxteco17.JPG|thumb|Colossal Olmec sculpture named "Negro" at the Museo Regional Tuxteco]]

[[File:MuseoRegionalTuxteco17.JPG|thumb|Colossal Olmec sculpture named "Negro" at the Museo Regional Tuxteco]]

Santiago refers to Saint James Moorslayer, the patron saint. The name “Tuxtla” (originally Toxtla) is derived from [[Nahuatl]] and means “place of the rabbit” in reference to the year of the Aztec calendar when the Empire conquered the area.{{cite web |title=San Andrés Tuxtla |work=Enciclopedia de Los Municipios y Delegaciones de México Estado de Veracruz |publisher=INAFED |year=2010 |url=http://www.e-local.gob.mx/work/templates/enciclo/EMM30veracruz/municipios/30141a.html |access-date=May 4, 2014 |archive-date=May 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505054106/http://www.e-local.gob.mx/work/templates/enciclo/EMM30veracruz/municipios/30141a.html |url-status=dead }} Nahuatl was the main language of this area. According to the Tuxtla ''relación'' of 1580, the people of this area worshipped [[Huitzilopochtli]] (probably a result of [[Mexica]] influence), and they made stone and ceramic figures of him and sacrificed slaves to him. Priests were required to keep chaste.{{cite book |last1=Wauchope |first1=Robert |last2=Wiley |first2=Gordon |last3=Spores |first3=Ronald |title=Handbook of Middle American Indians, Volumes 2 and 3: Archaeology of Southern Mesoamerica |date=1965 |publisher=University of Texas Press |isbn=9781477306550 |page=783}}

Santiago refers to Saint James Moorslayer, the patron saint. The name "Tuxtla" (originally Toxtla) is derived from [[Nahuatl]] and means "place of the rabbit" in reference to the year of the Aztec calendar when the Empire conquered the area.{{cite web |title=San Andrés Tuxtla |work=Enciclopedia de Los Municipios y Delegaciones de México Estado de Veracruz |publisher=INAFED |year=2010 |url=http://www.e-local.gob.mx/work/templates/enciclo/EMM30veracruz/municipios/30141a.html |access-date=May 4, 2014 |archive-date=May 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505054106/http://www.e-local.gob.mx/work/templates/enciclo/EMM30veracruz/municipios/30141a.html |url-status=dead }} Nahuatl was the main language of this area. According to the Tuxtla ''relación'' of 1580, the people of this area worshipped [[Huitzilopochtli]] (probably a result of [[Mexica]] influence), and they made stone and ceramic figures of him and sacrificed slaves to him. Priests were required to keep chaste.{{cite book |last1=Wauchope |first1=Robert |last2=Wiley |first2=Gordon |last3=Spores |first3=Ronald |title=Handbook of Middle American Indians, Volumes 2 and 3: Archaeology of Southern Mesoamerica |date=1965 |publisher=University of Texas Press |isbn=9781477306550 |page=783}}

In 1522, Cortés arrived to Totogatl, and established the Spanish town of Tepeaca. Here he installed a sugar mill. Santiago Tuxtla itself was founded in 1525. The area was part of Cortés’ private lands given to him as the Marques del Valle by royal decree in 1531. The annual Santiago Tuxtla Fair began as a religious festival in 1525 and was converted to the current version in 1880.

In 1522, Cortés arrived to Totogatl, and established the Spanish town of Tepeaca. Here he installed a sugar mill. Santiago Tuxtla itself was founded in 1525. The area was part of Cortés' private lands given to him as the Marques del Valle by royal decree in 1531. The annual Santiago Tuxtla Fair began as a religious festival in 1525 and was converted to the current version in 1880.

The current main plaza was created in 1881, and in 1890 the Tower and Parish Clock were inaugurated. In 1931, the Angel R Cabada municipality separated from Santiago Tuxtla. The current municipality was created in 1932 with the name of Juan de la Luz Enríquez, with the seat at Santiago Tuxtla. In 1936, the municipality name was changed to match that of the seat. In 1950 the seat was officially designated a city and in 1974 it was declared a “colonial city.”

The current main plaza was created in 1881, and in 1890 the Tower and Parish Clock were inaugurated. In 1931, the Angel R Cabada municipality separated from Santiago Tuxtla. The current municipality was created in 1932 with the name of Juan de la Luz Enríquez, with the seat at Santiago Tuxtla. In 1936, the municipality name was changed to match that of the seat. In 1950 the seat was officially designated a city and in 1974 it was declared a "colonial city."

{{commons category|Santiago Tuxtla Municipality}}

{{commons category|Santiago Tuxtla Municipality}}