Introduction/Home Page by Ira Jacknis Introduction to Tzintzuntzan by the Anthropologist George Foster/ Map of Tzintzuntzan/ The First Fieldwork: 1944–46 Mariano Cornelio, a Tarascan fisherman/farmer, in his boat Vicente Rendon and his compadre Salvador Villagomes harvesting maize Vicente Rendón on the way to market with pottery Family at the grave on All Saints’ Day Jesús Peña making candles Tarascan masked dancers, "owner" and "watcher", at the Octava of Corpus Christi Highway victim Changes in Tzintzuntzan: 1945–79 and 1979-88 View towards the northwest side of Lake Pátzcuaro Yácatas, reconstructed ruins on the east edge of the village Doña Micaela González, in her small patio Melecio Hernández, husband of Micaela González, making an ox yoke Micaela González’s house; in front are her daughter Virginia Pichu, and William Iler, a UC Berkeley graduate student The new second floor on Micaela González’s house; Mary Foster on the balcony Dolores (Lola) Pichu and her younger sister Virginia Pichu, daughters of Micaela González and her first husband, Pedro Pichu Pachita Villagómez and her husband Faustino Peña Doña Andrea Medina, her daughter-in-law Pachita Villagómez, and her granddaughter Lucía Lupe Calderon and Eustolio Campos coming out of the parish church after their wedding Florentina Dominga, a Tarascan woman, with a midwife’s offering La Soledad chapel The arrival of fireworks (La Obra) at La Parroquia, the Parish church Death dancer, Salvador Maturino Red devil dancer Female attendants of the king and queen figures, Rosa Lara Group of spies entering the house of Ambrosio Zaldívar, to pay homage to the district saint (barrio santo) and to be fed; Holy Wednesday A spy; Holy Wednesday A penitente, with his assistant (cirineo); Good Friday Fish dancer and net in the procession of trades; Corpus Christi Little Old Man Dance (Los Viejitos) House façade decorated for a posada procession; before breaking the piñatas; Christmas season Tarascan women making tortillas by hand, cooked on a wood fire Lola Pichu making tortillas in a press, inside her present old-style kitchen Amalia Felices making pots, by joining two mold-made halves and smoothing the inside Doña Andrea Medina at the kiln in her yard Otilia Zavala, wife of Wenceslado Peña, glazing pottery Pachita Villagómez painting a fish design on a large platter, before glazing Salvador Cuirís and his pottery delivery truck Pottery sellers in the church atrium; Fiesta of Nuestro Señor del Rescate The store, "La Central," and the plaza on the main highway, looking south Lola Pichu inside her family’s store; Christmas Changes in Tzintzuntzan: 1988–2000 George Foster Biography Lupe Calderon and Eustolio Campos coming out of the parish church after their wedding; July 2, 1983. Usually bride and groom go to church to confess the afternoon before their marriage. The wedding itself takes place early in the morning, usually after Mass, and can be performed only if the couple presents a civil marriage certificate to the priest. . . . After emerging from the church, where the bridal party is met by a band which the boy's godfather has engaged, all go the godfather's house for a simple breakfast of chocolate, milk, and bread. Later in the day the party goes to the house of the boy where his father has prepared an elaborate wedding feast. Dancing takes place afterward, either in the patio or in the street, with the young couples today dancing "sweeng" as well as more traditional Mexican numbers. After dinner the newly married couple retires to a room where their new marriage godparents give them advice and warning about how to treat each other, to be tolerant of one another's shortcomings, and to work to make a success of the new union (1948). The simple weddings of yesterday are becoming elaborate fiestas in which the ability to attract a preponderance of outside, city guests is the measure of competitive success. In one recent wedding the bride wore an elaborate silk bridal gown, and the groom full morning dress. Their future happiness was toasted with sparkling wine in champagne glasses (1979). The father of Eustolio Campos was the long-time sacristan of the church; this wedding was unusual as tables were set up in the street outside. CONTINUE >