Rooted in Mesoamerican culture, the tradition of the “Voladores de Papantla” or the “Dance of the Flyers” involves a ceremonial performance. Its origins trace back to the Totonac community in the region of Veracruz, Mexico. A place full of traditions. Meanwhile, the Caporal, the fifth man, stands on a platform atop the pole, playing songs with a flute and small drum dedicated to the sun, the four winds, and each cardinal direction.
In the ceremony, four young men climb a wooden pole ranging from eighteen to forty meters high. Meanwhile, the Caporal stands atop the pole, playing songs with a flute and small drum dedicated to the sun, the four winds, and each cardinal direction.
After the invocation, the others hang from the platform with long ropes, spin, emulating flight, and gradually descend. Each dance variant embodies the myth of the universe’s birth, reflecting the community’s worldview and values in the Voladores’ ritual ceremony.
The Myth of the Voladores de Papantla
In a Totonac legend, during a severe drought, five individuals sought to communicate with Xipe Totec, the god of fertility, to bring rain. They ventured into the forest to find the largest tree, fasted, and prayed throughout the night at its base for divine assistance.
The following day, the villagers consecrated, cut down, and brought the chosen tree back to the village. They then stripped it of its leaves and branches. The massive trunk was erected in a square and blessed once more. Adorned in feathers and emulating birds, the men climbed to the top, seeking the attention of Xipe Totec. Suspended by a rope, they circled the mast, imploring the god’s mercy with the accompaniment of flute and drum.
Since that time, the Totonac people have upheld the tradition of flying around a trunk, passing down this technique from one generation to the next.
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