The Young Women of Chiapas
Later that day, we walked through the square in the middle of Merida on our way back to our hotel. One of many young women from Chiapas came up to me to try to sell me some wares.
These young women are everywhere that we have been in Yucatan. You can tell they’re from Chiapas because of their colorful satin blouses with embroidered trim and dark woolen skirts.
Most of the women wearing traditional dress in the Yucatan are Yucatecan Maya, from the northern Yucatan states. Their tradition dress is called a huiptil and consists of a totally white cotton dress with bright embroidery on a wide collar.
On the other hand, the women from Chiapas do not wear cool cotton but instead, they wear a warm woolen skirt. Chiapas, where Palenque is located, is hilly and mountainous and therefore much cooler than the northern Yucatan.
I don’t know how these young women manage the humidity and heat in their wrapped ankle length skirts.
I like them. They’re often pretty, have gold or silver fillings around their teeth, and sell head bands, purses, wool blankets, bracelets, and sometimes craft items, all of which they carry on their arms and in a big blanket full of items tied around their shoulder.
The woolen blanket is also used as a blanket to keep them warm if the temperature is cool.
I think I must have a sign above my head that reads, “Sucker,” because I can’t help buying from them. They crowd around me. So far, I have two tote bags, a glasses case, a headband and a woven belt.
I try to restrict myself to one purchase per place we visit.
Carol Chapman
Copyright © 2009 Carol Chapman
