Religious festival traditions, pottery and the traditional Xocomole give Chiltoyac a distinctive cultural identity. For travelers who choose a destination based on local customs and cuisine, there are several specific points of interest: the Danza del Caballito del Señor Santiago, two festivals that commemorate the Señor de Chiltoyac, and Xocomole recipes passed down through families. The town also has a pottery tradition linked to a former Totonac settlement.

Dance between festival and performance

The Danza del Caballito del Señor Santiago accompanies festivals in Chiltoyac with simple music played on a carrizo flute and drum. In the town, it is regarded as an expression of religious syncretism and also creates space for theatricality and playful performance. Music, religious interpretation and performative character thus come together in a shared tradition.

The history of participation also has several chapters: for centuries, the dance was reserved for older men. Since its revival in 2012, children have also taken part. Both the former restriction on participation and the later change are important to understanding the dance tradition.

Festivals and religious tradition

Two religious festivals in Chiltoyac commemorate the Señor de Chiltoyac. One is associated with the first Friday in March, the other with May 15. At the church in Chiltoyac, the arrival of the image of Christ on the cross is commemorated on the first Friday in March. Thousands of pilgrims come to the shrine of the Señor de Chiltoyac for both festivals.

According to local tradition, the image is kept permanently in a temple with colonial walls and never leaves it. If you want to plan your trip around one of the festivals, confirm the exact date in advance.

Pottery tradition in the festival setting

Pottery is considered a pre-Hispanic craft and is linked to a former Totonac settlement. Participants from Chiltoyac, organized through the Centro Comunitario de Tradiciones, Oficios y Saberes de Chiltoyac (CECOMU), have worked with researchers from the Universidad Veracruzana to help revive the town’s history and ancient pottery tradition. During the festivals, stalls selling pottery and traditional mole are set up in local homes. Craft and cuisine thus come together in the festival setting.

Xocomole: recipe and tradition

Xocomole is a traditional dish from Chiltoyac: a tamal made with black dough and then covered with mole. To prepare it, the Xocomole is wrapped in leaves from the Xoco tree, also called cinco palos. The distinctive combination of black dough, tamal and mole gives the dish its particular form, while the leaves add another local element to its preparation.

In Chiltoyac, different Xocomole recipes are passed down from generation to generation, with each family preserving its own way of preparing the dish. Families work together to make it: they select the ingredients, roast and grind them, and then cook the paste. The local food culture is reflected in the dish itself, the variety of family recipes and the shared preparation.

Getting there and when to visit

The bus ride from the busy streets of the capital to Chiltoyac takes about 40 minutes. Use this approximate duration as a guide when planning, and check the connection for your specific travel date.

Festival dates may influence when you choose to travel; the pottery tradition and Xocomole offer other cultural and culinary highlights. Which of these aspects of Chiltoyac matters most to you can also shape how you plan your stay.

Discover more destinations: Jáltipan de Morelos, Monte Gordo, El Manzanillo, Santiago Tuxtla, Jamapa, Alto Tio Diego, Coscomatepec De Bravo, Papantla De Olarte

For the regional travel overview: Veracruz.