The Totonac are an indigenous people of Mexico. They reside in the states of Veracruz, Puebla, and Hidalgo. In the 15th century, the Aztecs labeled the region of Totonac, “Totonacapan”. Totonacapan was largely hot and humid. The region was mainly known for its production of liquid amber and cotton. They are the builders of the pre-Columbian city of El Tajin and also claimed to have built the city, Teotihuacan. They are also known as the world’s main producers of vanilla.
Totonac’s are Roman Catholic. Mother goddesses played a very important role in the Totonac belief. They believe each person’s soul is made by them. It’s believed that if a newly born child dies, it’s soul, does not go west to the place of the dead but to the East with the mothers. Also as a tradition, it is believed that “when babies are born during a storm, under the protection of thunder. They think that a lightning bolt strikes the house of a new born baby… and makes it… under its possession.”
The Totonac people speak Totonac, together with Tepehua. Which forms an isolated language family. It is spoken with 4 principle dialects and also lacks the sound of r. There are many different varieties of Totonac. Such as Papantla Totonac, North Central Totonac, South Central Totonac, and Misantla Totonac.
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Totonac.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 18 July 2018, http://www.britannica.com/topic/Totonac.
“Totonac Indians.” The First Commandment of God, http://www.catholicity.com/encyclopedia/t/totonac_indians.html.
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