Tlalpujahua is a Magical Town of Michoacán where every year is celebrated The Sphere Fair, a tradition that combines Christmas festivities with the talent of local artisans. It is a town of mining originwith beautiful cobbled streets and baroque architecture worthy of admiration that will transport you to another moment in the history of Mexico.
Besides being known as “the town of eternal Christmas”Tlalpujahua is full of culture, history and unique gastronomy of the region that is worth discovering.
The origin of the Sphere Fair, craft tradition in Tlalpujahua
In 1965 Mr. Joaquín Muñoz Orta and his wife María Elena Ruíz Villagrán returned to Tlalpujahua.after living for a while in the United States, where they learned to make Christmas decorations.
With artisan blood, decide to undertake in the manufacture of Christmas decorations, implementing techniques such as blown glass and opening his first factory called “Christmas decorations”.
Thanks to its population full of talented artisans, more than 400 workshops in Tlalpujahua are dedicated to the manufacture of Christmas ornaments and spheres.
The manufacture of Christmas balls is the mainstay of the Tlalpujahua economy, which before the pandemic received an economic benefit of approximately 180 million pesos between October and December.
The Tlalpujahua Sphere Fair 2022
From September 29 to December 19, the Tlalpujahua 2022 Sphere Fair takes placewhere more than 300 artisans They present their work to the public.
This 2022 the fair returns with all its splendor in its 23rd edition. It is estimated that this year approximately around 400 thousand tourists, domestic and foreign. In addition, in this edition it returns to normality with all its activities after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Santa’s house
One of the largest sphere factories is Santa’s Housewhere children can visit Santa Claus and observe the work of more than 500 artisans who work here.
The technique they use to make the spheres is that of blown glasspractice that Jose Munoz Ruiz inherited from his parents, the pioneers of the artisan manufacture of spheres.
The Two Stars Mine
Tlalpujahua is originally a mining town. In 1558 the Spanish conquistadors rediscovered the mines that the indigenous people exploited, becoming one of the main mineral exporters in the region.
During the Mexican Revolution, many mines closed down, but Tlalpujahua continued to operate and became a the first gold producer in the worldwhich brought great investment and technology.
In 1937 the mine closed permanently. after a human error caused an explosion that buried a third of Tlalpujahua and the chapel of Nuestra Señora del Carmen.
Today, the Dos Estrellas mine is a museum open to the public filled with original artifacts that were used to exploit the mine and smelt its minerals, as well as plans, exhibit rooms, and workshops.
The sunken church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen
The neighborhood of Carmen along with its church They are part of the history of Tlalpujahua in an event that ended with the final closure of the Dos Estrellas mine.
In 1937after an incident in the mine, a dam containing sewage and toxic waters brokeburying the church and causing the death of hundreds of families who lived in this part of town.
Today, the sunken church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen is surrounded by nature and is a must stop for every traveler.
brockman dam
Very close to the Magical Town of Tlalpujahua, between the state of Mexico and Michoacán is brockman damtoday a lagoon surrounded by a quiet forest.
The area around Brockman Dam is perfect for hiking, horseback riding, fishing, boating, and mountain biking.
With more than 70 thousand square meters, the river connects the Brockman dam with the Victoria lagoon, surrounded by cabins that can be rented and spend an unforgettable weekend.
Rayón National Park or Campo del Gallo
Inaugurated in 1952, the Rayón National Park, or as it is colloquially known “Campo del Gallo”, was a large piece of land owned by the Rayón brothers, prominent militants during the war of independence.
In 1812, the park was used as a field of operations during the war of independence. The Rayón brothers fortified El Cerro del Gallo, where they were in charge of melting and manufacturing weapons, setting up a printing press and increasing their troops.
On August 29, 1952, it was declared a Mexican heritage and today it is dedicated to the conservation of its more than 98 species of birds, in addition to its beautiful forest, as well as the flora and fauna that live and grow in it.
By Eduardo Canche Alvarez
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