Glossary of Selected Terms Adobe Bricks made out of mud. Aguacate Avocado. The word comes from the Nahuatl ahuagatl. Agave A large cactus-like plant with long fleshy protrusions. Also known as the century plant, the agave produces strong fibers that can be woven into cloth and a liquid that can be fermented into a beer-like bever- age called pulque, or further distilled into mescal and tequila. Aguardiente The term refers to a local brandy made out of sugarcane. Alcalde Mayor Atole A very thick beverage made with corn-gruel, served for breakfast on fiesta days. Atrio Courtyard. The term often refers to the courtyard of a church. Ayudante Technically the term means assistant. In Mexico it identifies the chief political officer of a satellite village of a municipality. The ayudante reports to the alcalde who is based in the municipal seat. Hueyapan’s ayudante reports to the alcalde in Tetela del Volcán. Barrio An officially demarcated part of town. Hueyapan has five barrios (San Miguel, San Jacinto, San Andrés, San Bartolo, and San Felipe). Barranca Gorge. Bufanda Scarf. The term used in Hueyapan for the wool scarf men wear in the chilly seasons of the year. Cal A chalk-like substance (lime), added to the water used to stew corn kernels in the preparation of the nixtamal. Calle Street. Calzones Often translated as pajamas. The traditional white linen pants and shirt worn by campesinos in Mexico. Campesino Often translated loosely as peasant––someone of modest means who lives in rural Mexico and makes a living by farming. CEDEH Comisión Estatal de Derechos Humanos. Centavo A fraction of a peso. There are 100 centavos to 1 peso. Centro In Hueyapan, the Centro refers to the barrios of San Miguel and San Jacinto, which together constitute the center of town. Charro The term used in Mexico to identify the costume worn by musi- cians performing ranchero music in mariache bands (voice, string, and brass ensembles). The costume imitates the style of dress histor- ically associated with owners of haciendas before the Mexican 226 / glossary of selected terms Revolution––tightly fitted black jackets and pants with silver studs up the side, black boots, and broad rimmed sombreros. Chicharrón Deep fried pork rind. Chiles Hot peppers. Chirimía Spanish term for shawm, a European Renaissance instrument of the oboe family. The inhabitants of Hueyapan and of neighboring towns consider the chirimía to be an indigenous instrument. See p. 247, n. 37. Chocolate Prehispanic Mexican spice, which, when sweetened, became a world-famous delicacy. The term comes from the Nahuatl. Comal Round disk, traditionally made out of clay, used to cook tortillas and tamales. The comal dates to prehispanic times and the word comes from the Nahuatl. Comadre Name given reciprocally to women who have entered into a spiritual relationship blessed by the Catholic Church, for example, the godmother and mother of a child. Compadre Name given reciprocally to men who have entered into a spiri- tual relationship blessed by the Catholic Church, for example, the godfather and the father of a child. CONACULTA Consejo Nacional para la Cultura y Artes CONAFE Consejo Nacional de Fomento Educativo COPLAMAR Coordinación General del Plan Nacional Para Zonas Deprimidas y Grupos Marginados. Corregidor The manager of a corregimiento. He was always of Spanish or Creole origin. Corregimiento An administrative unit in colonial Mexico, where there were no Spanish cities, that identified lands and districts owned by the king of Spain. Curandera Female form of curandero, meaning healer. Dame de comer Give me something to eat. Distrito Federal The Federal District (DF)––Mexico City. Ejidos After the Mexican Revolution of 1910–1920, the Mexican government initiated a major land reform program. Land grants, known as ejidos, were expropriated from large land- holdings and given to landless peasants and to villages. Individuals and villagers could not sell ejido land until 1992, when President Carlos Salinas changed the law. Encomienda The term used in colonial Mexico for land grants made by the king to the conquistadors. These grants included not only a par- cel of land but rights to the labor of the people living there as well. After a generation or two, encomiendas reverted to the Crown. Encomendero The individual in charge of an encomienda. In collaboration with Catholic missionaries, encomenderos were expected to care for the spiritual well being of the Indians living and working on their lands. EZLN Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional (Name of indige- nous rights movement in Chiapas that has attracted world- wide attention in 1994). glossary of selected terms / 227 Gabán A Spanish term for overcoat. The word is used in Hueyapan, instead of the more familiar poncho, to refer to the blanket men wear to keep themselves warm in the chilly hours of the day. Gachupín Deprecating work for Spaniards. See p. 260, n. 23. Hacendado Owner of a hacienda. Unlike the encomendero, the hacendado purchased his land, either from the Mexican government or from a private individual. Hacienda A large rural estate or plantation. Huaraches Leather-thong sandals with rubber-tire soles, worn by men. The word is also spelled with a “g” (guaraches). IEBM Instituto de Educación Básica del Estado de Morelos. Indio Indian. In 1969–1970, this was the polite term to use when had deeply insulting connotations. In recent years, how- ever, in particular since 1994 and the rise of indigenous rights movements in Mexico, Indians are assuming their identity with pride and are using this term to identify themselves. Indígena Indigenous person. In 1969–1970, this was the polite term to use when referring to an Indian. The term is still used widely. Ixcactles Agave-fiber sandals worn by women. The word comes from Nahuatl. Jefa Female form of jefe, meaning chief or leader. Maestro Rafael used the terms affectionately when referring to his mother, the matriarch of the family. Jitomate Red tomato in Mexican Spanish. The term comes from the Nahuatl. Kalpull Usually spelled calpulli, this Nahuatl term refers to the Aztec kinship and land tenture system. Ley Indígena Popular name for legislation passed in early 2001 to protect the cultural rights of Mexican Indians. The law was vigor- ously criticized for being too weak by indigenous rights activists in Mexico. Licenciatura Equivalent of a Bachelor’s degree in the United States. Mano (hand) Heavy rolling pin made out of volcanic rock, used for grind- ing corn, chiles, tomatoes, and other foods on the metate. Maestro(a) Title used for a school teacher. Maestría Equivalent of a Master’s degree in the United States. Malinche Also known as Doña Marina. Malinche was Cortés’ mistress and interpreter. Mexicans who collaborate with Americans and Europeans are called Malinchistas. See p. 219, n. 24. Maquila A measure of corn kernels (about the size of a quart in Central Mexico). Mayordomo Sponsor of a religious fiesta. Mestizaje The term used to describe the process of constructing the hybrid racial and cultural identity of the Mestizo. 228 / glossary of selected terms Mestizo The term technically means hybrid or cross-breed. In post- revolutionary Mexico, the Mestizo represented the idealized Mexican––the racial and cultural descendant of two great civilizations (the Spanish and the Indian). Metate A heavy slab of volcanic rock used for grinding corn, chiles, tomatoes, garlic, and other spices and vegetables. The mano and metate date to prehispanic times. The word metate comes from the Nahuatl. Misterio Small image of a saint kept in the home of the mayordomo. Mole An elaborate sauce served over meat, fish, or sometimes only beans, made with chiles and, depending on the particular mole, a wide variety of spices and other ingredients. In Hueyapan the preferred variety of mole is called mole colorado. Morral In Central Mexico the term refers to an agave-fiber bag. Municipio Municipality. Hueyapan belongs to the Municipality of Tetela del Volcán. Nahuatl The language spoken by the Aztecs and by other peoples living in Central Mexico at the time of the Spanish conquest. Nahuatl remains one of the most widely spoken indigenous languages in Mexico in the early years of the twenty-first century. Nixtamal Stewed corn kernels––the first step in the preparation of corn for making tortillas and tamales. PAN Partido de Acción Nacional. The name of Mexico’s main conser- vative political party whose candidate, Vicente Fox , became president of the nation in 2000, deposing the reigning party for the first time in over 70 years. The acronym mean bread. Peso Mexico’s basic monetary unit. In 1969–1979, there were 12.5 pesos to the dollar. The currency rate changed in 1976. Petate Straw mat placed on the floor of a house or on the ground outside––used for sleeping or sitting. The word comes from Nahuatl. PRD El Partido Revolucionario Democrático. A national political party founded in the 1980s to challenge the hegemony of the PRI from the left. The founding leader of the PRD was Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas, the son of Mexico’s legendary socialist- leaning president of the 1930s, Lázaro Cárdenas. Presidente de Fiestas Patrias Mayordomo of secular fiestas celebrating national holidays. PRI El Partido Revolucionario Institucional. The reigning political party of postrevolutionary Mexico that was deposed for the first time in 2000 by the conservative party PAN. Pueblo Village. Pulque Fermented juice of the agave plant. This beer-like drink dates back to prehispanic times. The word pulque comes from the Nahuatl. Rancho Hamlet. Hueyapan has five barrios and a few satellite ranchos. Rebozo Shawl worn by women. glossary of selected terms / 229 Salsa Hot sauce made traditionally with red or green tomatoes, chiles, and other spices. Sombrero Hat. The word was incorporated into Hueyapan Nahuatl as xonblelotle.