Totonac everyday life

The Totonac inhabit two different types of environments. One consists of high mesa (cool and rainy). The other one consists of coastal lowlands (hot and humid). Both environments are agriculturists. Lowland raise a variety of cash crops. While highland keep poultry and raise livestock. The lowland live primarily in scattered farmhouses as the highlands live in Central villages. The Totonac generally purchase their tools from commercial outlets.

The Totonac clothing consisted of a variety of different things. The women dressed grandly and even braided their hair with feathers. They were classified as “elegant”. They wore skirts and a poncho that covered their breasts. They also often tattooed their faces with red ink. On the other hand the men dressed well also. They wore multicolored cloaks, necklaces, armbands, and feathers.

Trade is very important. The Totonac rely on the middlemen to take their agriculture produce to the markets. The Division of labor was where men were in charge of the maze fields and women took care of the household. Coffee was a great deal for labor. Entire families actually worked together to harvest those beans. When the men were absent , women had to work the fields themselves.