Guadalupe Yancuictlalpan (usually referred to as simply “Gualupita”) is a small community, which is part of the municipality of Tianguistenco, Mexico State.The name Yancuictlalpan is most likely derived from the Nahuatl

Nahuatl

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...

 word yancuic, which means “new” and the word tlal.li which means “land”. ”

Located 60 kilometers from Mexico City

Mexico City

Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...

, and 30 from Toluca

Toluca

Toluca, formally known as Toluca de Lerdo, is the state capital of Mexico State as well as the seat of the Municipality of Toluca. It is the center of a rapidly growing urban area, now the fifth largest in Mexico. It is located west-southwest of Mexico City and only about 40 minutes by car to the...

. The community is famous for the wool knit and woven items that are made by the local artisans. Each weekend takes place a market of textile handicrafts in the main street.

History

The construction of the main temple began in 1679 and ended in 1789, as it is indicated by an inscription in the South Tower of the temple.

Demographics

In 1990 it has a population of 2812 inhabitants and 6385 in 2000, which represents the 10.9% of the total population of the municipality.

Government

Gualupita belongs to the municipality of Tianguistenco, and therefore belongs to the Eleventh District Court whose seat is Tenango de Arista; the sixth State electoral district with headquarters in Santiago Tianguistenco and 35th federal electoral district in the city of Tenancingo

Tenancingo

Tenancingo may refer to:* Tenancingo, Mexico State* Tenancingo, Tlaxcala...

. Local community is governed by its delegates.

Economy

Most economic activity is produced by artisanal and industrial textiles trade. Agriculture and livestock are little practised activities.
On saturday the community organizes a “tianguis

Tianguis

A tianguis is an open air market or bazaar that is traditionally held on certain market days in a town or city neighborhood in Mexico and Central America. This bazaar tradition has its roots well into the pre-Hispanic period and continues in many cases essentially unchanged into the present day....

” where fresh fruits and vegetables are sold. On sunday, the local people sells artisanal and industrial clothes.

Handicrafts

Woven items are made on colonial style wood looms many of which have been in families for generations. Textile arts here date back at least to 1472 using fibers from the maguey plant. After the Spanish arrival, these fibers were mixed with wool.
The local people produces zarape

Zarape

The serape or sarape is a long blanket-like shawl, often brightly colored and fringed at the ends, worn in Mexico, especially by men. "Serape" also can be used to refer to a very soft rectangular blanket with an opening in the middle for one's head, similar to a poncho called gabán in México. Some...

s, mañanitas, sweaters, etc.

External links

• http://gualupita.com.mx/gualupita/index.html Official website
• http://www.barraganzone.com/mexicanadance_gualu.html Gualupita Essay
• http://www.mexicanmercados.com/people/woolweav.htm Gualupita Market

19°10′59"N 99°27′30"W