30 de Enero
Gathering point: Church of the Assumption, Copoya, municipality of Tuxtla Gutiérrez
The Descent of the Little Virgins of Copoya is one of the most representative religious and cultural expressions of the Zoque people and one of the most significant traditions of Tuxtla Gutiérrez. This celebration honors the Virgin of Candelaria, the Virgin of the Rosary, and María Olochea—a unique Marian triad safeguarded in the town of Copoya, descending twice a year to travel through Tuxtla.
The first celebration takes place in January, for Candlemas on February 2; the second occurs from October 14 to 23 in honor of the Virgin of the Rosary. During both periods, the Zoque community preserves a tradition where faith, ritual, and family coexistence come together in an extensive ceremonial program.
Processions begin on January 4 with the “pedidas”, visits throughout the city where devotees request to host the images in their homes. On January 30, at 9:00 a.m., the traditional Descent of the Virgins of Copoya takes place, beginning the procession from the town’s church to the home of the First Prioste, a community role that changes annually.
The ceremony includes mayordomos, dancers, carriers, and devoted families. The images are placed in flower-adorned wooden boxes and carried with mecapales by devotees fulfilling promises. The procession features Zoque traditional dance, such as the yomoetzé, and in recent years, the participation of parachicos, creating a cultural encounter in the Chiapas capital.
Over 53 days, the Little Virgins travel through various neighborhoods of Tuxtla Gutiérrez, visiting over 40 homes where they are received with prayers, ceremonies, and community gatherings. This itinerary is part of a popular religious tradition aimed at strengthening Zoque identity and supporting the maintenance of the church through voluntary offerings.
Gastronomy plays a key role in this celebration. Homes and priostes prepare emblematic Zoque dishes such as wacasís caldú (beef broth), nigüijuti (beef in Zoque mole), and putzatzé (stewed offal), all made exclusively with beef, reinforcing the ritual character of the festivity.
The ceremony concludes with the Ascent of the Little Virgins of Copoya on March 23, when the images return to the church in Copoya after their circuit through the homes that received them during the pedidas, closing the Zoque ceremonial cycle.
Discover this unique tradition, a living testimony of the cultural identity of Tuxtla Gutiérrez and a spiritual legacy deeply rooted in Zoque worldview.
The first celebration takes place in January, for Candlemas on February 2; the second occurs from October 14 to 23 in honor of the Virgin of the Rosary. During both periods, the Zoque community preserves a tradition where faith, ritual, and family coexistence come together in an extensive ceremonial program.
Processions begin on January 4 with the “pedidas”, visits throughout the city where devotees request to host the images in their homes. On January 30, at 9:00 a.m., the traditional Descent of the Virgins of Copoya takes place, beginning the procession from the town’s church to the home of the First Prioste, a community role that changes annually.
The ceremony includes mayordomos, dancers, carriers, and devoted families. The images are placed in flower-adorned wooden boxes and carried with mecapales by devotees fulfilling promises. The procession features Zoque traditional dance, such as the yomoetzé, and in recent years, the participation of parachicos, creating a cultural encounter in the Chiapas capital.
Over 53 days, the Little Virgins travel through various neighborhoods of Tuxtla Gutiérrez, visiting over 40 homes where they are received with prayers, ceremonies, and community gatherings. This itinerary is part of a popular religious tradition aimed at strengthening Zoque identity and supporting the maintenance of the church through voluntary offerings.
Gastronomy plays a key role in this celebration. Homes and priostes prepare emblematic Zoque dishes such as wacasís caldú (beef broth), nigüijuti (beef in Zoque mole), and putzatzé (stewed offal), all made exclusively with beef, reinforcing the ritual character of the festivity.
The ceremony concludes with the Ascent of the Little Virgins of Copoya on March 23, when the images return to the church in Copoya after their circuit through the homes that received them during the pedidas, closing the Zoque ceremonial cycle.
Discover this unique tradition, a living testimony of the cultural identity of Tuxtla Gutiérrez and a spiritual legacy deeply rooted in Zoque worldview.
