Pox (pronounced 'Poshe') is a liquor commonly used for
ceremonial
A ceremony (, ) is a unified ritualistic event with a purpose, usually consisting of a number of artistic components, performed on a special occasion.
The word may be of Etruscan language, Etruscan origin, via the Latin ''Glossary of ancient Rom ...
purposes among the
Mayans
The Maya peoples () are an ethnolinguistic group of indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica. The ancient Maya civilization was formed by members of this group, and today's Maya are generally descended from people who lived within that historical reg ...
of
Mexico
Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
and
Central America
Central America ( es, América Central or ) is a subregion of the Americas. Its boundaries are defined as bordering the United States to the north, Colombia to the south, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. ...
.
It is made of corn, sugar cane and wheat. Besides its religious significance it is also a somewhat popular alcoholic drink in the
Chiapas
Chiapas (; Tzotzil language, Tzotzil and Tzeltal language, Tzeltal: ''Chyapas'' ), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Chiapas ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Chiapas), is one of the states that make up the Political divisions of Mexico, ...
region of southern
Mexico
Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
. The word "pox" in
Tzotzil
The Tzotzil are an indigenous Maya people of the central Chiapas highlands in southern Mexico. As cited by Alfredo López Austin (1997), p. 133, 148 and following. As of 2000, they numbered about 298,000. The municipalities with the largest Tzo ...
means "medicine, cane liquor, cure." Pox was commonly used in religious ceremonies and festivals in
San Juan Chamula
San Juan Chamula is a ''municipio'' (municipality) and township in the Mexican state of Chiapas. It is situated some from San Cristóbal de las Casas.
As of 2010, the municipality had a total population of 76,941. Virtually the entire popula ...
,
Chiapas
Chiapas (; Tzotzil language, Tzotzil and Tzeltal language, Tzeltal: ''Chyapas'' ), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Chiapas ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Chiapas), is one of the states that make up the Political divisions of Mexico, ...
, but increasingly soda has been substituted for it.
External sources
Maffi, Luisa. ''Journal of Linguistic Anthropology''. June 1996, Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 27–46
References
Mexican drinks
Mexican alcoholic drinks
Mexican distilled drinks
{{mexico-cuisine-stub