Chiltoyac: Xocomole, Pottery and Festivals

In Chiltoyac, an unusual festival dance tradition, pre-Hispanic pottery and a dish with many family recipes come together. The Danza del Caballito del Señor Santiago is accompanied by a carrizo flute and drum; Xocomole combines black dough with mole and leaves from the Xoco tree. If you’re looking for a holiday rental, you can decide whether religious festivals, craftsmanship or local cuisine should shape your stay in Chiltoyac.

Dance, festivals and religious heritage

The Danza del Caballito del Señor Santiago is performed during festivals in Chiltoyac. It is considered an expression of religious syncretism there and offers scope for theatricality and playful performance. The music features a carrizo flute and drum. The combination of sound and performance gives the dance tradition its distinctive character, without the need for a large musical ensemble.

For centuries, the dance was reserved for older men. Since it was revived in 2012, children have also been included. In this way, a long-established form and a change in participation exist side by side: the tradition draws on older roles while also welcoming more participants.

Two religious festivals in Chiltoyac commemorate Señor de Chiltoyac. One takes place on the first Friday in March, the other on May 15. At Chiltoyac’s church, the arrival of the image of the crucified Christ is commemorated on the first Friday in March. Thousands of pilgrims come to the sanctuary for the two festivals. According to local tradition, Señor de Chiltoyac is kept permanently in the temple with colonial walls and never leaves it. If you would like to plan your trip around this religious tradition, the two dates are a good starting point; check the dates for your intended travel period.

Pottery and local crafts

Chiltoyac’s pottery tradition is considered a pre-Hispanic craft and is associated with an earlier Totonac settlement. Participants from Chiltoyac, organized through the Centro Comunitario de Tradiciones, Oficios y Saberes de Chiltoyac (CECOMU), have revisited the town’s history and ancient pottery craft together with researchers from the Universidad Veracruzana. Alongside religious heritage, this brings into focus a craft whose roots reach far back into Chiltoyac’s history.

During festivals, local homes offer stalls selling pottery and traditional mole. This brings crafts and cuisine together in a specific festival context; the offerings are tied to the festivals and should not be understood as a permanent selection. This distinction matters when planning your trip: attending a festival, exploring the pottery tradition and learning about religious customs are different ways to experience the town.

Xocomole: a dish with family variations

Xocomole is a traditional dish from Chiltoyac: a tamal made from black dough and then covered with mole. Leaves from the Xoco tree, also called cinco palos, are used for the wrapping. Recipes vary from family to family and are passed down through generations. Xocomole is therefore not just one fixed preparation, but part of a diverse family tradition.

The preparation process is also shaped by shared effort. Families select the ingredients, roast and grind them, and then cook the paste. These steps show how much preparation goes into the dish before the black dough, mole and leaves come together. If local cuisine is a priority when choosing a destination, Xocomole offers a tangible culinary connection to Chiltoyac, as well as a glimpse into how recipes are passed down within families.

Getting there and finding your accommodation

The bus journey from the busy streets of the capital to Chiltoyac takes about 40 minutes. This approximate travel time can help you place the town in your travel plans; check the connection for your specific travel date. When looking for a holiday rental, you can then consider which side of Chiltoyac you would most like to shape your stay: its religious festivals, pottery history or culinary tradition centred on Xocomole. These interests can help guide your choice of destination, without requiring all your travel plans to revolve around the same theme.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Monte Gordo, Laguna Verde, Jáltipan de Morelos, Gutiérrez Zamora, Alonso Lázaro, Teocelo, El Manzanillo, Acayucan.

For the broader travel overview: Veracruz.