Religion

The pre-Hispanic Zapotec followed a different form of religion than the current Zapotec people. This religion was referred to as  animistic. Prior to present times, the Zapotec divided their universe into a center with four unique quarters. The Zapotec associated each of these four quarters with a different color and each had different supernatural attributes. They believed in different gods associated with each of the nautral occurring elements. 

The Zapotec still recognize some of their ancient beliefs and practices, such as the burial of the dead with valuables.

Today, the Zapotec culture has mixed Catholicism with their pre-Hispanic beliefs, "wherein saint worship plays a dominant part" (Fry 1996). As far as believing in  the supernatural, the Zapotec believe in: "witches, male and female devils, images of Christ (as a child and as an adult), and animal guardians (tonos)" (Fry 1996).  As part of tradition, a person is baptized at birth. If you are unbaptized, the Zapotec believe that you now are at risk of becoming a nahual, which can be defined as "an animal from assumed in the state of possession" (Fry 1996).

Since the Zapotec culture has combined views of Catholicism with their pre-hispanic beliefs, they have more religious leaders outside from a Catholic priest.  These other leaders are called hechiceros. The hechiceros have many duties and ceremonies,  "including offerings of flowers, food, poultry blood, mescal, money, cigarettes, and prayers at occasions such as weddings, funerals, and house initiations" (Fry 1996).

Relating to their religious beliefs, the Zapotec also reconize and hold ceremonies in their lifetime such as baptism, communion, marriage, and death. The Zapotec either hold these ceremonies in their church or in their homes.
Works Cited

Fry, Douglas
    1996 Zapotec. Encyclopedia of World  Cultures.  Electronic  Document 
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3458001433.html Accessed April 05, 2013

2013 Zapotec Peoples. World News Network. Electronic Document. http://wn.com/zapotec_peoplesorderby=relevance&upload_time=today#/biography
Accessed March 24, 2013.


By Jessica Horowitz

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