Huichol Crafts

Huichol Crafts (Wirraritari)

In Huichol handicrafts, peyote, deer and corn are the most important elements for the Huichol cosmogony, which is why they are elements that are highly represented in their craft work, as well as in their rituals and daily habits... Mother Earth has provided them with of many things to survive and be happy, so they seek to capture their beauty in their manual labor.

The Huichol crafts are world famous. The most successful objects have been the worsted tables or nierikas, popular for their designs that are classified as "psychedelic", a quality they acquire because the inspiration to be created is usually obtained from visions produced under the effects of peyote.

According to his culture, peyote provides inspiration only if he wants it; the artisans are a conduit for the will of the plant and by extension, the beloved mother earth. 

The Huichols are one of the ethnic groups that have managed to remain pure since the times of the conquest. They refer to themselves as Wirrarica or Wirraritari

Similarly, beads, another important material in Huichol crafts, is considered a symbol of "Lady Water"; The principle of life. When crafts are made with beads, it is interpreted as strung dreams that dissolve into a bead so tiny that it is difficult to work with the fingertips. The masks and figurines made with it represent deities and sacred animals.

Another aspect is the crosses woven in yarn (Ojos de Dios), recognized worldwide for their color and meaning. They are made with “tsikurite” yarn and constitute important ritual objects, although they are also made for commercial purposes. These are representations of the cosmos with its five directions, that is, the four cardinal points and the center.

Of course, in the territory of Nayarit, in the fishing village of Rincón de Guayabitos, going almost a kilometer into the Sierra Madre, passing the city of Compostela and the Puga sugar mill, you arrive at Nueva Valey, where there is a small village Huichol, with a population of approximately 130 natives.

The name "Huichol" is derived from the word Wixarika, which means "soothsayer" or "shaman" in their language. The Huichols, from childhood, are instructed to communicate with the Spiritual World through symbols and rituals. The themes of their art and crafts always reflect their culture.

Finally you will find the famous "Eye of God"; the best-known religious instrumental figure of the Huichol culture. An "Eye of God" is equivalent to one year in the life of a child and every year, after his initiation in the "Drum Festival", as soon as he is newborn, his father must make one until he is five years old, to may you always be protected. These amulets integrate a "cosmic tree" that is thrown into the sea in a sacred place that the Wixárika have in San Blas, Nayarit. And it is represented in its crafts.

The next time you consider going to marvel at the beauty of the Riviera Nayarit, also plan a tour to delve into the Huichol culture and all the riches they offer, both in the material world and for your spirit.