“This panteón is of the people and for the people.” Those words echo powerfully around the Panteón San Gregorio. This is more than just a cemetery. It is a symbol of community resilience and cultural identity in San Gregorio Atlapulco.
Welcome to the Panteón San Gregorio. It is a place where the living and the dead intertwine. Here we celebrate traditions dating back centuries.
San Gregorio Atlapulco is one of Xochimilco’s original settlements. The Nahuatl word atlapulco means where the water flutters or in the lands of the mud. This area has always been vital for food production and medicinal plants.
The Panteón San Gregorio represents the ongoing struggle to preserve indigenous customs. A struggle against homogenization and outside control.
Patricia González Guzmán stands as a guardian of these traditions. She is the president of the Comité Pro Panteón. She faces threats for her dedication to preserving the Panteón San Gregorio’s autonomy.
The Panteón San Gregorio operates under the authority of the town assembly. This embodies the community’s collective decision-making. In 2023, community members ousted two committee members. This was due to their support for imposing external regulations on the cemetery.
Those ousted then called for an assembly. They wanted to take over the Panteón. But the community stood firm in its resolve to protect its heritage.
“La Alumbrada” is a significant ritual. It involves a procession from the church to the Panteón San Gregorio. This ceremony honors the deceased. It reinforces the bonds between past and present generations.
Concerns arose when external authorities sought to limit grave space usage rights to just seven years. This proposal threatened the tradition of intergenerational burial. It disrupted the community’s connection to their ancestors.
Patricia was chosen president of the Comite Pro Panteón in 2021. The community recognized the attempt to undermine their autonomy. They saw it as an assault on their right to self-determination.
Despite facing smear campaigns Paty secured resources. She was able to build niches for cremated remains. This was to address potential overcrowding. Accusations of embezzlement proved unfounded. The money was properly invested in the cemetery.
Due to death threats, women from Atlapulco and nearby communities rallied to support her. They guarded her during her work. They protected her during her travels. Even Paty’s young children wanted to write to the president. They wanted to denounce the treatment of their mother.
Paty participated in defending community wells. She spoke out against violence against women and elders. This was during a protest against water theft. She continues to fight for her community.
The Panteón San Gregorio is more than a burial ground. It is a testament to the spirit of San Gregorio Atlapulco. It shows their determination to protect their cultural heritage. It is a place where tradition lives on.