Trade by estuary

By: Edgar Barillas

The Canal of Chiquimulilla, which permitted the navigation of the coastal waters of the Pacific, made possible the creation of trade routes in the pre-Hispanic period. Numerous archaeological sites are located in Jutiapa and give accounts of the small and medium sized urban centers. The largest urban concentrations were those of Mictlán, in present-day Asunción Mita, and Paxá, known today as Pasaco. We also find archeological sites in Agua Blanca (Papalhuapa), Comapa (Comapa and Las Pilas), El Progreso (Palo Amontonado), Moyuta, The Bordos, Montaña Verde and Pasaco (Potrerillos). It is known that in the north, in the communities of Chiquimula, they spoke ch'orti'. In the south there was a pipil region of Mexican descent. In Conguaco, Jalpatagua and other places they spoke populuca. In the present-day Department of Santa Rosa, the communities were of xinca origin. Once the conquest was completed the Iberian conquerors reorganized the populations they now dominated.

The pre-Hispanic settlements provided places for new communities. In the 18th century, the Archbishop Pedro Cortés y Larraz encountered indigens which understood Spanish. Apparently the process of inter-marriage had found growth in the region. The same thing occurred in the parish of Jutiapa, which had three joined populations. The Yupilteque, Atescatempa and Comapa all spoke xinca and also Spanish. In the first era of the colonial regime, the populations that today correspond to Jutiapa belonged to Chiquimula de la Sierra. Later it underwent an integration with Mita, whose authority was maintained until after the Independence. In 1852, the Department of Jutiapa was created but its integration does not remain to the present-day. The recomposition continued with the passing of the years. In 1853 Asunción Mita, Santa Catarina Mita and the valleys of Agua Blanca and El Espinal were annexed to Jutiapa. One year later Azacualpa was incorporated. During the Reforma Liberal, in 1873, Jalapa became a different Department leading to the considerable reduction in the territory of Jutiapa. In present times there are beneficial improvements being made to the territory and to the aquatic bio-diversity of the Canal of Chiquimulilla.

In the cradle of the Sun

By: Luis Villar Anleu

It is within Jutiapa that the pre-eminence of the existence of the volcanic existence is manifested with exceptional vigor and pleasing diversity. Jutiapa is somewhat known for its beaches like Barra del Jiote, El Limón, Barra de La Gabina, La Barrita and Cojoyera.

The most prominent volcanoes are Suchitán (2,042 meters in altitude), Chingo (1,775 meters), Moyuta (1,662 meters), Amayo (1,544 meters), Ixtepeque (1,292 meters), Las Víboras (1,070 meters), Culma (1,027 meters) and Tahual (1,716 meters), that is shared with the Department of Jalapa.

The largest lagoons are Güija and Atescatempa. Among the smaller lagoons we find El Comendador, El Obrajuelo, El Peñón, El Carrizo, La Bermeja, El Muchacho, El Tule, San Juan, Las Hojas, La Encantada, El Muerto, Cruz Roja, El Naranjal and many, many more. There are also abundant rivers in this Department such as Amayito, Salado, Tamasulapa, Ostúa or Grande de Mita, Mongoy, Tusamates, Pululá, Chalchuapa and Paz.

Natural attractions of note are Güija Lake, Laguna de Atescatempa, Anda Mirá Cavern, and volcanoes such as El Culma, Las Víboras, El Chingo, El Ixtepeque, El Suchitán and El Moyuta.

The chaparral developed here in a form of eco-system of deciduous brush and is the predominant ecological environment. It reaches its maximum development in the depression that surrounds Lake Güija, often called the Valley of Jutiapa.

Artisanry

By: Francisco Rodríguez Rouanet and Aracely Esquivel

Traditional ceramics

This art is practiced in the municipalities of Jutiapa, Comapa, Conguaco, Pasaco, San José Acatempa, Santa Catarina Mita, Yupiltepeque and Zapotitlán.

Baskets

Woven baskets are elaborated in the municipalities of Moyuta and Yupiltepeque.

Rope

Created in the municipalities of Agua Blanca, Comapa, Conguaco, Quesada, Santa Catarina Mita and Yupiltepeque.

Musical instruments

These are constructed in the municipalities of Asunción Mita and Santa Catarina Mita.

Palm products

They design hats in the municipalities of Jutiapa, Conguaco and Moyuta. The plaits for the creation of the hats are made in the municipalities of Jutiapa, Conguaco and Moyuta.

Candle making

They make candles, of various types, of tallow and paraffin in the municipality of Jutiapa.

Leathers

They craft saddles, riding gear and belts in the municipalities of Jutiapa, Asunción Mita, El Progreso, Pasaco and Yupiltepeque.

Fireworks

Various types of pyrotechnics are crafted in the municipalities of El Progreso and Santa Catarina Mita.

Another famous type of artisanry is the "animales de yeso" or animals of plaster that they make in the municipality of Agua Blanca.

Traditions

By: Carlos René García Escobar

Dances

All of the complexity found in traditional dances in the other regions of the country has been lost in this Department. We know that some manifestations still remain and sporadically appear in communities such as Santa Catarina Mita, where previously there were representations of the Moros y Cristianos and the religious activity of the "Encuentro de los Santos" is still performed.

But over all they follow the custom of the "Tope de Mayo" on the day of Santa Cruz.
In all of Jutiapa, like in the east of the Republic, they participate, on Sundays and festival days, in bullfighting, rodeos, cockfights, ribbon or hoop races and games of chance, especially those that include wagering.

The saraband occupies an important place in Jutiapa and other eastern regions and it is treated as a dance with musical accompaniment.

Cofradías and Hermandades

In Jutiapa the cofradías have fused with the hermandades and they call this fusion "comités". Their activities begin with the local patron festivals when the cofrades and "colaboradoras" (women who assist in the cult rituals) start to adorn their religious cult image and to solicit monetary contributions from the community. Their religious activities are the prayers, the procession of the patron images and the foods that they offer to the membership of the association.