Alamo, Veracruz
Encyclopedia
Álamo is a Mexican
city in the state of Veracruz. It was elevated to city status in 1973, it has 24,159 inhabitants. The city's name is derived from the many Álamo trees (platanus wrightii
)growing along the Pantepec River
. The main industry is orange
production.
.
Around 800-1300 AD, before the Aztec invasion, the territory was occupied by the Totonac and Huastec cultures. Altars from that period, called cues are found along the banks of the Pantepec River
.
In 1683, the Dutch pirates Laurens de Graaf
(know locally as "Lorencillo") and Nicholas van Hoorn
ravaged the region during their capture and looting of the port city of Veracruz.
The region was awarded with the title of "Heroico Temapache de Gutiérrez Zamora" by Decree No. 45 of 10 October 1878. The city itself grew from a small peasant village through rural migrants and cyclical workers.
In the Mexican Revolution
, the region was controlled by General Manuel Peláez
who had organized a small force.
In 1912, Penn-Mex Fuel Oil began drilling
the Álamo Well no. 1 which attracted many workers. Álamo was established as a town in 1926 and was elevated to municipal status in 1927 through the efforts of Guillermo Velez, who became the first constitutional mayor.
In December 1973, the town of Álamo was elevated to the status of city.
, at a elevation of 40 meters above sea level. It is located about 380-km north of the state capital, Xalapa
. Its climate is hot and extreme, the average annual temperature is 24 °C and annual precipitation is 1.391 m.
. The main religions are Catholicism
and Protestantism
.
In the Population Census of 2000, there were 22,011 households, with an average of 4.6 occupants per dwelling.
, bean
s, citrus
, watermelon
, papaya
and pipián.
Livestock are also an important agricultural commodity. In the municipality there are 431,131 head of cattle, 7,155 pigs, 7,200 of sheep, and 5,675 horses.
The "huasteco dish" is made of sausage, corned beef, ham, bacon and fried plantains with beans and salsa verde.
"Acamaya Soup", "huatape", "enchiladas dance" and "barbecue beef" exemplify the rich cuisine of the municipality.
festivities begins forty days before Lent and concludes before Ash Wednesday. There are a number of dance troupes, some very informal with no choreography, but other groups are well-prepared. They are called Malinche by the inhabitants of the city.
There is a movement to return to traditional style of celebration, with traditional wooden masks and band music .
is a major event during the last week of April. In 2010, it was called "CitroFest 2010". The event covered five hectares of land, with room for international guest speakers and business tables to allow producers to meet with large retail chains and consumers.
There is also be a bullring
, public theater, sculptures made from oranges, the meeting of the Sotavento
and Huasteca music, exhibition of cultivation equipment, shopping, food, rides, among many other attractions.
One of the biggest attractions at the fair is the Colotero Race. The competitors load basket full of oranges (up to 70 kg) on his back, which is held by a carrying strap to the front of the head. The length of the race varies, but is currently about a mile. Dropping the basket is an automatic disqualification.
, where they perform dances of the region, religious and cultural events, enlivened by the jaranas and violins, traditional musical instruments of the Huasteca.
in remembrance.
The tradition is based on the biblical episode from the Gospel of Luke
called Finding in the Temple
, where Jesus
stayed behind in Jerusalem unbeknownst to his parents. When they discovered him missing, they searched for three days and found him at the Temple
.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
city in the state of Veracruz. It was elevated to city status in 1973, it has 24,159 inhabitants. The city's name is derived from the many Álamo trees (platanus wrightii
Platanus wrightii
Platanus wrightii , is a sycamore tree native to Arizona and New Mexico with its range extending south into Sonora, and a small area of Chihuahua Mexico....
)growing along the Pantepec River
Pantepec River
-References:*Atlas of Mexico, 1975 .*The Prentice Hall American World Atlas, 1984.*Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993....
. The main industry is orange
Orange (fruit)
An orange—specifically, the sweet orange—is the citrus Citrus × sinensis and its fruit. It is the most commonly grown tree fruit in the world....
production.
History
Before European contact, it was occupied by the Huasteca and later the AztecAztec
The Aztec people were certain ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those groups who spoke the Nahuatl language and who dominated large parts of Mesoamerica in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, a period referred to as the late post-classic period in Mesoamerican chronology.Aztec is the...
.
Around 800-1300 AD, before the Aztec invasion, the territory was occupied by the Totonac and Huastec cultures. Altars from that period, called cues are found along the banks of the Pantepec River
Pantepec River
-References:*Atlas of Mexico, 1975 .*The Prentice Hall American World Atlas, 1984.*Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993....
.
In 1683, the Dutch pirates Laurens de Graaf
Laurens de Graaf
Laurens Cornelis Boudewijn de Graaf Laurens Cornelis Boudewijn de Graaf Laurens Cornelis Boudewijn de Graaf (ca. 1653, Dordrecht, Dutch Republic – probably 24 May 1704, Cap-Français, Saint-Domingue, alias Laurencillo/Lorencillo & El Griffe (Spanish); Sieur de Baldran, alias de Graff (French); or...
(know locally as "Lorencillo") and Nicholas van Hoorn
Nicholas van Hoorn
The pirate Nicholas van Hoorn was born in Holland and died near Vera Cruz, Mexico. Nikolaas or Klaas was engaged in the Dutch merchant service from about 1655 until 1659, and then bought a vessel with his savings. With a band of reckless men whom he had enlisted, he became a terror to the...
ravaged the region during their capture and looting of the port city of Veracruz.
The region was awarded with the title of "Heroico Temapache de Gutiérrez Zamora" by Decree No. 45 of 10 October 1878. The city itself grew from a small peasant village through rural migrants and cyclical workers.
In the Mexican Revolution
Mexican Revolution
The Mexican Revolution was a major armed struggle that started in 1910, with an uprising led by Francisco I. Madero against longtime autocrat Porfirio Díaz. The Revolution was characterized by several socialist, liberal, anarchist, populist, and agrarianist movements. Over time the Revolution...
, the region was controlled by General Manuel Peláez
Manuel Peláez
Manuel Peláez Gorrochotegui Mexican military officer, noteworthy for his participation in the Mexican Revolution of 1910 to 1920.Manuel Peláez was born in 1885 in the Huasteca region of the state of Veracruz, in the coastal area roughly between Tampico, Tamaulipas, and the port of Veracruz...
who had organized a small force.
In 1912, Penn-Mex Fuel Oil began drilling
Oil well
An oil well is a general term for any boring through the earth's surface that is designed to find and acquire petroleum oil hydrocarbons. Usually some natural gas is produced along with the oil. A well that is designed to produce mainly or only gas may be termed a gas well.-History:The earliest...
the Álamo Well no. 1 which attracted many workers. Álamo was established as a town in 1926 and was elevated to municipal status in 1927 through the efforts of Guillermo Velez, who became the first constitutional mayor.
In December 1973, the town of Álamo was elevated to the status of city.
Coat of Arms
The city's coat of arms depicts a corn cob held by two hands, over the background of an orange, symbolizing the agricultural activities of the region. Over the top is the vehicular bridge "President Jose Lopez Portillo", which is located at the entrance to the city and represents progress. In the top left, there is a factory, symbolizing the juice industry, and at the top right is a head of cattle representing livestock industry. The bottom of the shield is decorated by two branches of tobacco leaves, and below them the full name of the municipality: Temapache Álamo, VeracruzClimate
Álamo is located in the North of VeracruzVeracruz
Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...
, at a elevation of 40 meters above sea level. It is located about 380-km north of the state capital, Xalapa
Xalapa
Xalapa-Enríquez, commonly Xalapa or Jalapa, is the capital city of the Mexican state of Veracruz and the name of the surrounding municipality. In the year 2005 census the city reported a population of 387,879 and the municipality of which it serves as municipal seat reported a population of...
. Its climate is hot and extreme, the average annual temperature is 24 °C and annual precipitation is 1.391 m.
Demographics
Throughout the city there are about 10,000 speakers of indigenous languages, primarily NahuatlNahuatl
Nahuatl is thought to mean "a good, clear sound" This language name has several spellings, among them náhuatl , Naoatl, Nauatl, Nahuatl, Nawatl. In a back formation from the name of the language, the ethnic group of Nahuatl speakers are called Nahua...
. The main religions are Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
and Protestantism
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
.
In the Population Census of 2000, there were 22,011 households, with an average of 4.6 occupants per dwelling.
Education
Álamo has 149 preschools, 179 elementary and 47 secondary schools. It has 15 institutions of high learning.Agriculture
The main agricultural products in the city are maizeMaize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
, bean
Bean
Bean is a common name for large plant seeds of several genera of the family Fabaceae used for human food or animal feed....
s, citrus
Citrus
Citrus is a common term and genus of flowering plants in the rue family, Rutaceae. Citrus is believed to have originated in the part of Southeast Asia bordered by Northeastern India, Myanmar and the Yunnan province of China...
, watermelon
Watermelon
Watermelon is a vine-like flowering plant originally from southern Africa. Its fruit, which is also called watermelon, is a special kind referred to by botanists as a pepo, a berry which has a thick rind and fleshy center...
, papaya
Papaya
The papaya , papaw, or pawpaw is the fruit of the plant Carica papaya, the sole species in the genus Carica of the plant family Caricaceae...
and pipián.
Livestock are also an important agricultural commodity. In the municipality there are 431,131 head of cattle, 7,155 pigs, 7,200 of sheep, and 5,675 horses.
Attractions
There are a number of beautiful churches in the area, including the Church of Santiago Apostle, dating from the 16th century, and the Church of Pasture the Plain of Our Lady of Carmen. It also has tourist attractions such as the Hacienda de la Noria, Salto Waterfalls, 5 Towns, The Bridge of the Congregation of Limonar, and beaches along the banks of the River Pantepec .Cuisine
Regional dish is the "zacahuil" a type of tamale, made of dough, chili, pork or chicken wrapped in a bed of banana leaf and cooked in clay oven .The "huasteco dish" is made of sausage, corned beef, ham, bacon and fried plantains with beans and salsa verde.
"Acamaya Soup", "huatape", "enchiladas dance" and "barbecue beef" exemplify the rich cuisine of the municipality.
Carnival
CarnivalCarnival
Carnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...
festivities begins forty days before Lent and concludes before Ash Wednesday. There are a number of dance troupes, some very informal with no choreography, but other groups are well-prepared. They are called Malinche by the inhabitants of the city.
There is a movement to return to traditional style of celebration, with traditional wooden masks and band music .
Orange Fair
The annual Orange FairFair
A fair or fayre is a gathering of people to display or trade produce or other goods, to parade or display animals and often to enjoy associated carnival or funfair entertainment. It is normally of the essence of a fair that it is temporary; some last only an afternoon while others may ten weeks. ...
is a major event during the last week of April. In 2010, it was called "CitroFest 2010". The event covered five hectares of land, with room for international guest speakers and business tables to allow producers to meet with large retail chains and consumers.
There is also be a bullring
Bullring
A bullring is an arena where bullfighting is performed. Bullrings are often associated with Spain, but they can also be found in neighboring countries and the New World...
, public theater, sculptures made from oranges, the meeting of the Sotavento
Sotavento
The Sotavento islands , is the southern island group of Cape Verde archipelago.There are four main islands: Brava, Fogo and Santiago are rocky and volcanic agricultural islands, with the longest histories of human inhabitance and densest populations in the Cape Verdes...
and Huasteca music, exhibition of cultivation equipment, shopping, food, rides, among many other attractions.
One of the biggest attractions at the fair is the Colotero Race. The competitors load basket full of oranges (up to 70 kg) on his back, which is held by a carrying strap to the front of the head. The length of the race varies, but is currently about a mile. Dropping the basket is an automatic disqualification.
Feast in honor of the Virgin of Our Lady of Sorrows
On 13, 14 and September 15 marks the festivity in honor of the Virgin of Our Lady of SorrowsOur Lady of Sorrows
Our Lady of Sorrows , the Sorrowful Mother or Mother of Sorrows , and Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows or Our Lady of the Seven Dolours are names by which the Blessed Virgin Mary is referred to in relation to sorrows in her life...
, where they perform dances of the region, religious and cultural events, enlivened by the jaranas and violins, traditional musical instruments of the Huasteca.
Day of the Lost Child
December 7 is the Day of the Lost Child (el día del niño perdido), a religious tradition whose origins can be traced to the presence of the first evangelists of the New Indies. Participants light a candleCandle
A candle is a solid block or cylinder of wax with an embedded wick, which is lit to provide light, and sometimes heat.Today, most candles are made from paraffin. Candles can also be made from beeswax, soy, other plant waxes, and tallow...
in remembrance.
The tradition is based on the biblical episode from the Gospel of Luke
Gospel of Luke
The Gospel According to Luke , commonly shortened to the Gospel of Luke or simply Luke, is the third and longest of the four canonical Gospels. This synoptic gospel is an account of the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. It details his story from the events of his birth to his Ascension.The...
called Finding in the Temple
Finding in the Temple
The Finding in the Temple, also called "Christ among the Doctors" or the Disputation , was an episode in the early life of Jesus depicted in the Gospel of Luke. It is the only event of the later childhood of Jesus mentioned in a gospel.The episode is only described in...
, where Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
stayed behind in Jerusalem unbeknownst to his parents. When they discovered him missing, they searched for three days and found him at the Temple
Temple in Jerusalem
The Temple in Jerusalem or Holy Temple , refers to one of a series of structures which were historically located on the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem, the current site of the Dome of the Rock. Historically, these successive temples stood at this location and functioned as the centre of...
.