PLAZA AND ITS FUNCTION IN A MEXICAN HIGHLAND COMMUNITY; TEPEOJUMA

Abstract

Before the conquest of the Spaniards, the village in Mexico widely spread out, and the inhabitants had settled along the valley near the hills where was an adequate water supply. The Spaniards brought together into the center of the village these population clusters from the outlying settlements, to control the inhabitants and to f aciliate taxation. The political and religious power was simply transfered to new ruling group represented by Spaniards. However, many of old principales were maintained by the Spanish conquerors. In most village in Mexico with a population of about one thousand inhabitants or more, there is a regular weekly market day once or twice a week. The market place is located near the center of the village, but most of it usually is in the open and unprotected area from the weather in the shade of tall old tree (Fig. 2). At Tepeojuma (Pue., Mexico) the market day is held on Thursday only, and held on Monday and Friday at Atlixco, and on Tuesday and Saturday at Matameros. This system makes posible a wider exchange of local goods among the inhabitants in West Puebla. On this particular day the inhabitants very early in the morning from all the outlying areas stream into the center of the village with their handicrafts and other wares they may have for sale or exchange ; the men on sandals (huaraches), the women and children mostly barefoot, and from near towns by trucks and near villages by the donkey with their family (Fig. 3). Usualy each of them has a his own spot in the market place where he regularly arrange their belongs on the ground. For this privillege he must pay 12 pesos 45 centavos a month to the municipal government of Tepeo juma. There, the long, amusing business of bargaining begins, and they eat, speak and hear the news and music. In this market acquaintances are made with people from other villages (localidades). In this way the plaza plays an important part in the structure of the town and village. In addition to the economic functions, however the plaza performs important social, cultural, historic, religious and recreational functions as well. In Mexico in some case activities are directly oriented toward recreation; in this plaza some groups gather around one or more guitar players in the open music hall (quiosco). In this way the inhabitants have good time of this plaza day and fiesta day here.