Seven snakes. That’s what Chiconcuac means in Aztec. Seven snakes coiled around a calendar date. Can you imagine it?
Chiconcuac a town and municipality in the State of Mexico. It sits about ten kilometers north of Texcoco de Mora. Its history stretches back long before the Spanish arrived. It was a collection of settlements. Chichimecas and Tlailotlaques lived here. They built their lives here. Long before the Spanish conquistadors came.
In 1597 the Spanish conquered the area. Hernando Nuñez received a land grant. He built the Hacienda de Santa Cruz de Prado Alegre. People knew it as the Arojo. Franciscans arrived to spread their religion. Chiconcuac’s location near Mexico City made it a battleground. It suffered through the Mexican War of Independence. The Second French Intervention. And the War of La Reforma. It bore witness to so much conflict.
But Chiconcuac is more than just its battles. It’s famous for something else. Its huge market. This tianguis. It’s a vibrant place. With 2400 permanent vendors. On weekends thousands more come. The market’s food court is particularly famous. It’s well-known for its barbacoa de borrego. Lamb barbecue. And other delicious Mexican specialties. The aromas alone would draw you in. I can almost smell it now.
And there’s more to the story. In 1980 something incredible was found. In the Calxiacatl neighborhood. Mammoth bones. Imagine the sheer size of those creatures. Walking the earth where you now stand. Their presence resonates through time. A silent connection to a distant past.
Chiconcuac. Seven snakes. A vibrant market. A history etched in battles and bones. This town holds a captivating story. A story waiting to be explored. A story that unfolds as you walk through its streets.