Nuevo San Juan Parangaricutiro
Nuevo San Juan Parangaricutiro is a small village located in the state of Michoacán, 8 km west of Uruapan, near the Parícutin volcano. The town serves as the administrative center of the municipality of Nuevo Parangaricutiro.
The town is nestled in the Purépecha plateau, it lies close to the Paricutín volcano. It was rebuilt after the destruction caused by the eruption of Paricutín in 1943, earning it the nickname “the town that refused to die”.
Nuevo San Juan Parangaricutiro stands as a testament to the resilience and determination of its people, who rebuilt their lives and preserved their rich cultural heritage despite the devastation wrought by the Paricutín volcano.
Origin and meaning of the name
The town is called “Nuevo” because the original San Juan Parangaricutiro was destroyed during the formation of the Parícutin volcano in February-March 1943. The name Parangaricutiro has several interpretations.
Some believe it means “jar on high”, while others think it signifies “the small one”, referring to the town’s humble beginnings. Another interpretation is derived from the Purépecha word “parangari” (mesa or plateau).
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The town of Nuevo San Juan Parangaricutiro is also famously known as Parangaricutirimícuaro, the longest toponym in Mexico. Some believe that the word “Parangaricutirimícuaro” is an urban legend and doesn’t exist.
It is the object of the folklore of many fictitious fables. The word itself is a tongue-twister and it is also used in longer tongue-twisters that include nonsense words similar to Parangaricutirimícuaro e.g.:
“El pueblo de Parangaricutirimícuaro se va a desparangaricutirimicuarizar. Quien logre desparangaricutirimicuarizarlo primero será un gran desparangaricutirimicuarizador”.
History
Nuevo San Juan Parangaricutiro emerged from the exodus of the original town of San Juan Parangaricutiro, which had to be evacuated due to the Paricutín volcano’s eruption in February-March 1943.
Along with the village of Parícutin, San Juan Parangaricutiro was buried beneath ash and lava. The tops of cathedrals in old San Juan Parangaricutiro still protrude from the volcanic deposits.
The residents relocated to a place previously known as “La Hacienda de los Conejos,” about 30 km from their original location. There, they established the new settlement, naming it Nuevo San Juan Parangaricutiro.
On May 12, 1944, the community arrived at their new land. They carried their patron saint, “El Señor de Los Milagros”, who now resides in the Sanctuary of the Lord of Miracles, a place of reverence to this day.
San Juan Parangaricutiro originally included areas like Zacán, Caltzonzin, and Paricuti.
After the evacuation, the town became part of the Uruapan municipality until 1950, when it regained its status as an independent municipality, with Nuevo San Juan Parangaricutiro as its seat.
Culture, Traditions & Festives
Nuevo San Juan Parangaricutiro is a town of Purépecha origin – an indigenous people that primarily live in the state of Michoacán, Mexico.
Major festivals
- January 8: Dance of the Kúrpites.
- Corpus Christi Thursday: Demonstration of local trades and dance.
- June 24: Patronal feast in honor of Saint John the Baptist.
- September 14: Feast in honor of the Lord of Miracles.
- September 21: A procession with wind bands and orchestras.
- October 31: To honor children who passed away during the year.
- November 1: Preparation of altars for the deceased.
- November 2: Traditional Purépecha Day of the Dead.
The culture of Nuevo San Juan Parangaricutiro is deeply rooted in the traditions and customs of the old town of San Juan Parangaricutiro. These traditions emphasize community unity, involving every family member in the celebrations.
The town is known for its wooden crafts, magic boards, and toy cars. Locals produce and sell shawls and embroidered dresses, typical garments worn by most women in the town, along with other traditional Purépecha attire.
Gastronomy
Nuevo San Juan Parangaricutiro offers distinctive regional dishes:
- Churipo (a beef stew with regional spices and cabbage)
- Atápakua (a savory green atole made with beef, mint, and cilantro)
- Té de nuríte (nurite tea), among others.
A church of San Juan Parangaricutiro
This church is all that remains of the small village of San Juan Parangaricutiro in the state of Michoacán in Mexico.
The town was completely blanketed after the eruption of Volcán de Parícutin in 1943. For the next eight years, lava flowed freely, burying the town underneath feet of volcanic rock – though its church survived unscathed.
The volcanic eruption was particularly unique as its entire evolution was observed and studied. Many also consider this volcano, and adjacent lava-covered village, to be one of the natural wonders of the world.
Under the church, houses and other buildings remain buried, but no residents were injured during the extended eruption.
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