Cocuchas – Distinctively Michoacán
Hand-molded cocuchas, some of which can be two
meters tall, are a sample of folk art
from Michoacán. They have earned national and international
fame. You will find them in countless
homes and offices throughout the state and beyond.
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| Cocuchas - Distinctively Michoacán |
Cocuchas have enabled the
women of the indigenous community of Cocucho
to empower themselves – out of necessity:
Cocucho is a town where most
of the men have migrated to the United States.
With their cocuchas and other
handicrafts, women are able to
maintain their families.
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| Mexican Folk Art: Cocuchas from Michoacán |
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| Mexican Artisans from Cocucho Michoacán |
If you visit Pátzcuaro during Day of the Dead, you can see how the women manage to get their
cumbersome wares to the Plaza Vasco de Quiroga. Some pieces are supported
by the traditional rebozo (shawl), while larger pieces need to be loaded onto
carts. And they are also the ones who
pack and load the cocuchas for the happy buyers.
Woman Artisan from Cocucho, Michoacán
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Women's Empowerment Through Handcrafts |
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| Cocuchas at Mansion Iturbe in Pátzcuaro |
If you want to buy directly from the artisans, we recommend you do so during the craft faires during Day of the Dead, and Holy Week. However, some of our guests even take a trip to the community of Cocucho to buy these famous pieces of pottery. From Pátzcuaro, the trip is approximately two hours. It’s a good idea to have the name and contact information of the artisan you like to make sure you find the piece(s) you want. Or, of course, you can just wing it and see what happens once you get there!
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Women's Empowerment Through Handcrafts
Woman Artisan from Cocucho, Michoacán
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You can also find these cocuchas at the huge craft expos around Palm Sunday in Uruapan.
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| Cocuchas – Distinctively Michoacán |
You might also be
interested in attending the annual Polished
Pottery and Embroidery Contest (Concurso
Artesanal en Cocucho). The date of
the contest is variable (usually around the end of January), so contact the
Institute of Craftsman of Michoacán
to obtain the exact date of the next craft competition in Cocucho.
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| Mexican Folk Art: Cocuchas from Michoacán |
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| Mexican Pottery: Cocuchas from Michoacán |
Whenever possible, buy
directly from the artisans. Besides,
it’s funner than shopping in a department store!
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| Cocuchas from Michoacán |
*Text video and pictures property of Hotel Mansión Iturbe.
We invite you to vist our blog, you will find information about Pátzcuaro and the surrounding area, that we hope will be helpful for your next visit to our colonial town in Mexico.
Here are some post that we suggest you:
Mexican Folk Art on the Banks of Lake Patzcuaro
Cantera Stone in Patzcuaro and the Lake Region
Hotel Mansión Iturbe
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