Seven snakes. That’s what Chiconcuac means in Aztec. The Arco de bienvenida Chiconcuac stands as a testament to this town’s rich history. It welcomes all to a place deeply rooted in tradition.
The Arco de bienvenida Chiconcuac is more than just an arch. It marks the entrance to a town known for its textiles. Chiconcuac’s story stretches back to pre-Hispanic times. It continues through Spanish conquest. It even includes a mammoth discovery.
Imagine this area long ago. Chichimecas and Tlailotlaques settled here. The Spanish arrived in 1597. Hernando Nuñez received land. He established the Hacienda de Santa Cruz de Prado Alegre. People knew it better as “Arojo”. Franciscan missionaries then evangelized the area.
Because of its location near Mexico City, Chiconcuac faced battles. These were during the Mexican War of Independence. They also occurred during the French intervention and the War of “La Reforma”. In 1980, mammoth bones were found. This happened in the Calxiacatl neighborhood.
But Chiconcuac is most famous for its market. It is called a tianguis. This market boasts 2400 permanent vendors. On weekends, nearly 6000 more vendors join. The food court is also widely known. It prepares barbacoa de borrego or lamb barbecue. You can find other Mexican specialties too.
Weaving has been vital here since pre-Hispanic times. People used tule from Lake Texcoco to weave petates or mats. They used these to pay tribute. The Codex of Tepetlaoztoc notes Chiconcuac had twenty neighbors. They paid tribute with mats for the cacique’s mansion. Chiconcuac was subject to Chiautla. These were lordships of the Acolhuacan empire. Their capital was in Tezcuco.
In 1597, Hernando Nuñez received land through a “royal grant”. This land became the Hacienda de Santa Cruz de Prado Alegre. Locals called it Arauxo or Arojo. It is now the San Miguel Municipal Pantheon. Indigenous authorities fought to defend their lands. The toughest legal battle began in 1795. It was against Don Francisco Goldaracena. He owned the Hacienda “Santa Cruz de Prado Alegre”. After eight years, the “sayaleros” or sayal weavers won. The lands stayed in their hands.
Franciscan missionaries handled evangelization. San Miguel Chiconcuac and San Pablo Calmimilolco were churches visited from Texcoco. Natividad Chiconcuac or Santa Maria Chiconcuac belonged to Chiautla.
Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza introduced wool. He also brought tools like cards, lathes, and looms. This promoted obrajes or workshops to weave cloth in the Texcoco region. Fray Pedro de Gante likely taught the petate weavers of Chiconcuac. He showed them how to prepare and weave wool on the pedal loom.
Chiconcuac’s residents have always valued autonomy. Despite arguments about poverty, they sought independence from Chiautla. The State of Mexico Congress issued decree number 89. This established Chiconcuac as a municipality on October 14, 1868. It was signed on October 17, 1868. Initially, the municipality included four blocks of San Miguel. These were “Zapotlan”, “Tecpan”, “Teutlalpan”, and “San Diego” or “Xalpa”. Santa Maria and San Pablito joined on April 29, 1879.
Decree 79 of the State of Mexico Congress renamed it “Chiconcuac de Juarez”. This happened on May 7, 1890. Life was not easy. With just 1.6 square kilometers of land, cultivation was limited. Many worked as laborers on nearby haciendas. They supplemented their income with wool weaving. Families used ancestral techniques and looms in small workshops. They wove wool sarapes. These were sold on Mondays in the town square.
The Arco de bienvenida Chiconcuac represents resilience. It honors a community that has preserved its identity. This is through centuries of change and challenge. As you pass under this arch, remember the “seven snakes”. Remember the weavers. Remember the fighters for land and independence. You are entering a place with a story woven into its very fabric.