Photography: René Araujo

Special thanks to: Domingo Champo Pérez

One of the biggest festivities in Suchiapa is the day they honor the “Santa Cruz” (holy Cross). On this day the tradition, which is called the way of the leaves, is about a plant called “espadana”.  This plant is found in Nambiyugua and its characterized by its leaves in a shape of a sword and pointy thorns.  This place is the scenario to perform what the ancestors have determined to the locals and close by communities.  The people make arrangements with lots of time and dedication so on April 26 of each year the “hojeros” get ready to go to the top hill as the tradition marks it.  The person in charge goes around the town picking up the “Hojeros” to form a group that will go to pick up the plant and then to different churches to pray

They start walking at midnight and go through about 10 communities in which the locals await for them with the traditional pozol and the different altars to the Holy Cross, the places is filled with music that you hear as they walk through the places as the “hojeros” walk at the same rhythm as the music.

After a long walk of about 20 hours they get to the top of the hill and after a break they start picking the leaves from the trees.  With their fingers pressing the base of the leaf they pull hard avoiding tearing it.

They collect the leaves in a very precise way. Otherwise it turns into a nightmare to transport it all because the thorns can hurt the back of the persons carrying it.  Each person “hojero” (collector) gets between 70 and 80 leaves that will be taken to the altar they had built at their homes.

Meanwhile at the Las Hojas River, on April 30th, a week after the “hojeros” had left the community awaits for them with music.  You can hear the drums, and flutes, the noise all around and when they finally arrive everything turns into a big fiesta where as the tradition marks they go back house-by-house delivering the leaves.  A huge meal and family hugs are also awaiting the hojeros.

This tradition is passed generation by generation so it doesnít disappear, the faith the people from Suchiapa have is well known throughout the county and the state and a lot of visitors come during this time to celebrate.

DATES From April 26 to May 5th.

FREE ACCESS

HOW TO GET THERE?  Take the highway to Villaflores from Tuxtla Gutiérrez.

WHAT TO DO Food, traditions, carnival activities, etc.

WE RECOMMEND YOU TO Ask around with the locals to see where to go for the traditional activities.