The plenary session of the local congress unanimously approved this Wednesday the 24th the declaration of the Vaquería and the Hanal Pixan (food for the souls) as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Yucatán, which gives rise to actions to preserve, disseminate, and promote these practices.
“The Vaquería is part of Yucatecan history, it is a bridge to transmit and show the beauty of our land, through its music, its dance, and its traditions,” they declared during the presentation of the opinion.
During the discussion of the ruling, PAN representative Carmen Guadalupe González, promoter of the Vaquería initiative, highlighted that cultural heritage flourishes in communities and depends on those whose knowledge of traditions, techniques, and customs is transmitted to the rest of the community. , from generation to generation or other communities.
“Intangible cultural heritage can only be so if it is recognized as such by the communities, groups or individuals that create, maintain and transmit it; without this recognition, no one can decide for them that a specific expression or use is part of their heritage,” he explained.
The approval of this declaration establishes that state and municipal authorities may carry out the necessary actions to preserve, disseminate, and promote both the Vaquería and the Hanal Pixan within the scope of their respective powers.
The legislators agreed that the Vaquería and the Hanal Pixan are artistic and cultural expressions that represent an element of identity and cultural belonging of the Yucatecan people.
Regarding Hanal Pixan, the decree establishes that it is a tradition of Mayan origin in which people who have died are commemorated to maintain the belief of the link between the living and the dead by the traditions rooted in the entity.
Deputy José Crescencio Gutiérrez González, from the Nueva Alianza party, highlighted that Hanal Pixan is one of the most sensitive celebrations in Yucatecan society. These declarations will come into force the day after their publication in the Official Gazette of Yucatán.
TYT Newsroom