Purepechan children during the new year celebration wearing colourful clothing in Uruapan, Michoacan, Mexico.
The P'urhépecha, normally spelled Purépecha in Spanish and in English and sometimes referred to as Tarascans, are an indigenous people centered in the northwestern region of the Mexican state of Michoacán, principally in the area of the cities of Uruapan and Pátzcuaro. Many traditions live on, including the "Jimbani Uexurhina" or new year that is celebrated on February 1. The celebration has traditional indigenous and Catholic elements. The community lights a fire called the chijpiri jimbani or "new fire" as part of a ceremony that honors the four elements. Mass is also celebrated in the P'urhépecha language, and this is the feast day of "San Jerónimo Purechécuaro." The P'urhépecha calendar, like that of the Aztecs for the counting of days called "Xiuhpohualli," had 18 months of 20 days (veintenas) a year with 5 additional feast days. The new year used to be celebrated on the day that the constellation Orion appeared.
Size: 3610px × 2400px
Location: Uruapan, Michoacan, Mexico
Photo credit: © Guillermo Lopez Barrera / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: celebration, children, colour, colourful, dress, festival, indian, mexican, mexico, michoacan, purepecha, tarascan, uruapan, year
