Animas Trujano is a town and municipality in

Oaxaca Oaxaca ( , also , , from nci, Huāxyacac ), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Oaxaca ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Oaxaca), is one of the 32 states that compose the political divisions of Mexico, Federative Entities of Mexico. It is ...

in south-western Mexico. The municipality covers an area of 6.7 km², and it is part of the Centro District in the Valles Centrales region. Its climate is warm most of the time, and the municipal area has a diversity of both animal and plant species. As of 2005, the municipality had a total population of 3189, the majority of them being Catholic. Approximately 69 people speak an indigenous language, according to the 2005

INEGI The National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI by its name in es, Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática) is an autonomous agency of the Mexican Government dedicated to coordinate the National System of Sta ...

census. The origin of the name "Animas Trujano" dates to the times of the

Mexican War of Independence The Mexican War of Independence ( es, Guerra de Independencia de México, links=no, 16 September 1810 – 27 September 1821) was an armed conflict and political process resulting in Mexico's independence from Spain. It was not a single, co ...

. Originally, the municipality was just called "Animas", but people decided to add the word "Trujano" in honor to Valerio Trujano. He spent a little time in Animas, but then he was executed by the Spanish royalist army during the Mexican War of Independence. One of the attractions of Animas Trujano is the "Danza de la Pluma". People also celebrate the feast day of the

Virgin of Guadalupe Our Lady of Guadalupe ( es, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe), also known as the Virgin of Guadalupe ( es, Virgen de Guadalupe), is a Catholic title of Mary, mother of Jesus associated with a series of five Marian apparitions, which are believed t ...

on December 12, a festival in honor of the Virgin of Rosario, the Holy Week and more.

History

This town, along with three other suburbs nearby (Santa María, la Raya and San Bartolo el pequeño), were initially part of a larger municipality called

San Bartolo Coyotepec San Bartolo Coyotepec is a town and municipality located in the center of the Mexican state of Oaxaca. It is in the Centro District of the Valles Centrales region about fifteen km south of the capital of Oaxaca. The town is best known for its ...

. However, over time, Animas and those three communities separated and eventually became independent. At first, Animas was only inhabited by two or three families who were sent there by San Bartolo in order to work the land. During that time, the owner of an adjacent farm called "Hacienda del Carmen" divided it and gave each of his workers a portion. Because this farm was close to Animas, it and its inhabitants later became a part of it. When Animas' name was changed to "Animas Trujano", the town was not yet a municipality. It became on February 17, 1868, after the Mexican War of Independence, that it was officially recognized as a municipality.

Culture

Animas Trujano has one of the oldest Nineteenth-century churches of Oaxaca, which is recognized as a historical monument. Also, although it is not a big city, it has its own musical band, which plays various songs from different eras. The band is characterized by the fact that its members use wind instruments to produce their music. Besides the variety of celebrations, the municipality provides many kinds of dishes, such as "mole negro," "empanadas" and "tlayudas con asiento". Chocolate, "champurrado" and "atole de granillo" make up the typical beverages of this region.

References

{{Centro District, Oaxaca Municipalities of Oaxaca